How safe do South Africans feel on their streets? Here's how people are changing how they live

A new Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) survey reveals that nearly half of South Africans are altering their daily routines to avoid becoming victims of crime, with many avoiding walking outdoors after dark and others reinforcing home security. According to the Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey, which ran from April 2025 to March 2026, 46.6% of respondents took steps to protect themselves against crime in the 2025/26 period, compared to 43.3% the previous year. This increase reflects growing concerns over personal safety amid persistent crime rates. The survey highlights that the most common protective measure was limiting outdoor activity to daylight hours, chosen by 31.5% of those who implemented safeguards. A further 29.9% opted for physical security upgrades, such as installing burglar doors or other deterrents. These actions underscore a broader societal shift toward self-protection, driven by a lack of confidence in the effectiveness of law enforcement. Despite these efforts, a significant portion of the population continues to feel unsafe in public spaces, particularly after nightfall. While 81% of South Africans aged 16 and older felt secure walking alone during the day in 2025/26, this figure dropped sharply to 37.9% after dark. Although this represents a slight improvement from 36.1% the prior year, it indicates that the majority of citizens still perceive nighttime as a high-risk period. Regional differences in perceived safety were also noted. Residents of Limpopo province expressed the highest levels of comfort, with nearly all feeling safe walking alone during the day and more than two-thirds doing so after dark. This contrasts sharply with other regions where fear of crime appears more pronounced. The survey offers a unique perspective on crime in South Africa, capturing both reported and unreported incidents. Unlike police statistics, which rely solely on formal complaints, Stats SA collects data directly from individuals and households, providing insight into crimes that go unrecorded. For instance, housebreaking, defined as the unauthorized entry into a residence when occupants are absent, was the most frequently experienced household crime, with over 1.5 million incidents recorded during the 2025/26 period. However, only 48.2% of affected households reported these incidents to the police, leaving more than half unaddressed by official channels. This discrepancy underscores a deep-seated distrust in the ability of law enforcement to respond effectively to criminal activity. Housebreaking disproportionately impacted certain demographics, including male-headed households, those led by individuals with post-school qualifications, and residents of KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape. In contrast, home robbery, where perpetrators target homes occupied by residents, ranked as the second-most common household crime. Personal theft emerged as the leading form of individual crime, with approximately 1.2 million South Africans aged 16 and above falling victim during the study period. An estimated 1.4 million incidents occurred, yet only 37.3% of victims chose to report them to authorities. Street robbery, though showing a marginal decline from 529,000 to 515,000 incidents, still saw a low reporting rate, with 41.7% of victims coming forward, a modest increase from 36.4% the previous year. In contrast to the downward trends observed in property-related crimes, assaults showed an upward trajectory. The number of individuals experiencing assault rose from 363,000 in 2024/25 to 408,000 in 2025/26. Men were more frequently targeted than women, though gender disparities in perpetrator relationships revealed notable patterns. Almost a third of female assault victims indicated that the assailant was a spouse or intimate partner, highlighting the complex interplay between domestic violence and overall crime statistics. These findings reflect a multifaceted challenge facing South Africa’s justice system, where both reported and unreported crimes contribute to a landscape of insecurity. As the survey continues to inform policy discussions, the need for enhanced community engagement and trust-building initiatives becomes increasingly evident.