Crime in South Africa

Cape Town still a safe tourism destination while crime decreases in South Africa

Although crime in Cape Town doesn’t affect tourists more than in other large cities or countries in the world as far as our experience goes with our many tourists visitors to Cape Town, we do however share some numbers that were released on crime in South Africa.

These decreases in crime are not for Cape Town specific but in general crime in the Western Cape is lower than in the rest of the country.

While South Africa's crime statistics for 2007/08 show a continuation of the steady decline in crime levels over the past five years, the level of crime in the country is still unacceptably high, says Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula.

Releasing the crime stats in Pretoria on Monday, the South African Police Service said there was a decrease in most "contact crimes" in 2007/08.

Decreases in eight contact crime categories resulted in an overall 6.4% decrease in contact crimes compared to the previous year.

Common assault dropped by 6.6%, common robbery by 9.5%, indecent assault by 2.1%, rape by 8.8%, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm by 4.6%, and attempted murder by 7.5%.

Murders have decreased by 4.7%, and robbery with aggravating circumstances was down by 7.4% compared to 2006/07.

Police analyst Chris de Kock said the decrease indicated that something was being done well. "This decrease shows that something is slowly but surely changing in society," De Kock said. "It shows hard work not only from the police side but the non-governmental organisations and the society in general."

“However, the increase in key sub-categories of robbery with aggravating circumstances was of extreme concern,” De Kock said.

House robberies increased by 13.5%, robberies at business premises rocketed by 47.4%, truck hijackings were up by 39.6% and car hijackings by 4.4%. "[The] government would have wanted to see a more drastic decrease in the levels, particularly given the interventions that have been made," Minister Nqakula said.

Molo Says: “our basics advise on safety in South Africa is relatively similar to any other large cities or destinations in the world:

1. Do not act like a tourist and wear camera’s, survival pants and safari outfits in town.

2. Avoid back streets both during the day and obviously at night.

3. Do not walk alone through back streets in towns. Taxis are not too expensive, faster and safe.

4. Do not go into the more dangerous areas alone or as a tourist. If townships are not safe for residents, they’re not safe for tourists on their own either.”


Remember for all the latest news on what’s happening in and around Cape Town, subscribe to our Editor’s Picks Newsletter.