Youth Crime Stats-At-A-Glance
Violent Crimes Against Children Under the Age of 18 Years

Note: The violent crimes included are: Murder; Attempted Murder; Rape; Common Assault, Assault GBH; and Indecent Assault.

The measures of violent crime utilized here are derived from:

  • The South African Police Service: http://www.saps.gov.za/statistics/reports/crimestats/2008/docs/introduction2008.pdf.

    Note: In addition to official data accumulated and published by the South African Police Service, three victim surveys have been conducted in South Africa 1998, 2003, and 2006: The first by Statistics South Africa[1], the second by the Institute of Security Studies[2], and the third by the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention.[3]

    To view the thumbnail graphs in full size, together with descriptive data, click the graph.

    To see a geographical analysis of crimes, using both SAPS and various victimisation data, please click on the South African Crime and Victimisation Mapping tool button.

    • Violent Crimes Against Children 2004- 2008

    Generally, according to police stats, violent crimes against children have decreased slightly between the period 2004 and 2007.

    Victimisation data shows that children are four times as likely to be victims of violent crimes than adults.
     
    Murder rates of Children 2004 - 2008
    Indicates that Murder rates have increased since 2004, and by 22.4% from 2006 to 2008.
     
    Attempted Murder Rates of Children 2004 - 2008
     
    The rate of attempted murders of children has decreased consistently since 2004, but has increased during 2007/2008.
     
    Reported Rapes of Children 2004 - 2008
     
    It shows that incidents of Rape against children under the age of 18 years have decreased
     
    Assaults of Children 2004 - 2008
     
    Both common assault and assault GBH against children decreased up to 2008, according to police data.
    An overview of additional data on crime in South Africa.

    The following section provides an overview of various violent crimes and property crimes, not youth specific, as well as data drawn from the South African Department of Correctional Services (DCS) on incarcerations levels (by categories) in South Africa.

    Data on violent crime includes Murder; Attempted Murder; Rape; Assault GBH; Indecent Assault; Common Assault; Common Robbery; Robbery; Carjacking; and Robbery at Residential Premises.

    Data on property crime includes Malicious Damage to Property; Burglary at Residential Premises; Theft of Motor Vehicle or Motorcycle; and Theft out of or from Motor Vehicle.

    Note: Although South African authorities were hoping to achieve a drop in crime in the 12 months ending in March this year of between seven and ten per cent, recent figures reveal a general increase in crime rates. For example, murders increased by 2.4 per cent (to 19, 202), residential robberies by 25.4 per cent, and carjackings by six per cent. The number of rapes (52, 617) and attempted murders (20,142) decreased.

    The measures of crime come from three sources:

  • The South African Police Service: http://www.saps.gov.za
  • The Department of Correctional Services: http://www.dcs.pwv.gov.za
  • Institute for Security Studies: 2007 Crime Statistics: Report on the Crime Situation in South Africa: http://www.issafrica.org

    • Click on the thumbnail below for detailed data on violent crime
    Detailed Data on Violent Crime
    Murder; Attempted Murder; Rape; Assault GBH; Indecent Assault; Common Assault; Common Robbery; Robbery; Carjacking; and Robbery at Residential Premises.
    Detailed Data on Property Crime
    Malicious Damage to Property; Burglary at Residential Premises; Theft of Motor Vehicle or Motorcycle; and Theft out of or from Motor Vehicle.
    Detailed Data on Incarceration
    Adult population, Juvenile population, Children population, Gender, Crime category

    [1] Available Online: http://www.statssa.gov.za/publications/P0341/P03411998.pdf

    [2] P. Burton, A. du Plessis, T. Leggett, A. Louw, D. Mistry and H. van Vuuren, National Victims of Crime Survey: South Africa 2003, ISS Monograph Series, No. 101, Pretoria, 2004.

    [3] Leoschut, L. and P. Burton (2006). How Rich the Rewards. Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention (CJCP), Monograph Series No.1.