In 2024, Pietermaritzburg in South Africa ranked first in the crime index among African cities, scoring 82.5 index points. The six most dangerous areas on the continent were South African cities. Furthermore, Pretoria and Johannesburg followed, with a score of 81.9 and 80.8 points, respectively. The index estimates the overall level of crime in a specific territory. According to the score, crime levels are classified as very high (over 80), high (60-80), moderate (40-60), low (20-40), and very low (below 20). Contact crimes are common in South Africa Contact crimes in South Africa include violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, and sexual offenses, as well as common assault and robbery. In fiscal year 2022/2023, the suburb of Johannesburg Central in the Gauteng province of South Africa had the highest number of contact crime incidents. Common assault was the main contributing type of offense to the overall number of contact crimes. Household robberies peak in certain months In South Africa, June, July, and December experienced the highest number of household robberies in 2023. June and July are the months that provide the most hours of darkness, thus allowing criminals more time to break in and enter homes without being detected easily. In December, most South Africans decide to go away on holiday, leaving their homes at risk for a potential break-in. On the other hand, only around 42 percent of households affected by robbery reported it to the police in the fiscal year 2022/2023.

In 2024, South Africa ranked first in the crime index among African countries, with a score of 74.8 index points. Nigeria was the second most dangerous country on the continent, obtaining 66.7 points. The index evaluates the overall crime levels in a specific country. Several African countries scored between 60 and 80 points, indicating high crime levels. Escalating concerns: South Africans worry about crime and violence In 2024, South Africa had one of the highest proportions of respondents expressing concerns about crime and violence compared to other countries participating in an online study. Throughout the period examined, the percentage of participants worried about violence peaked at 67 percent in March 2023. The escalating levels of violent crime currently witnessed in the country has caused this significant rise in concerned respondents. South Africa's organized crime landscape In 2023, South Africa ranked the third highest in organized crime compared to its African counterparts. The continent's most prevalent organized criminal activity was human trafficking and financial crimes. Moreover, from a regional perspective, Southern African countries had the lowest organized crime rate.

In 2024, Colima in Mexico ranked as the world's most dangerous city with a homicide rate of 140 per 100,000 inhabitants. Seven of the 10 cities with the highest murder rates worldwide are all found in Mexico. The list does not include countries where war and conflict exist. Latin America dominate murder statistics Except for Mandela Bay, all the cities on the list are found in Latin America. Latin America also dominate the list of the world's most dangerous countries. Violence in Latin America is caused in great part by drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and gang wars. Crime in South Africa Mandela Bay in South Africa is the only city outside Latin America among the 10 most dangerous cities worldwide. The country is struggling with extremely high levels of inequality, and is struggling with high levels of crime and power outages, harming the country's economy and driving more people into unemployment and poverty.

Intentional homicides are estimates of unlawful homicides purposely inflicted as a result of domestic disputes, interpersonal violence, violent conflicts over land resources, intergang violence over turf or control, and predatory violence and killing by armed groups. Intentional homicide does not include all intentional killing; the difference is usually in the organization of the killing. Individuals or small groups usually commit homicide, whereas killing in armed conflict is usually committed by fairly cohesive groups of up to several hundred members and is thus usually excluded.

In 2024, South Africa had a crime index of 75.4, which is to be considered high. However, this was one of the lowest indexes recorded in the country since 2017. Over the observed period, the value continuously fluctuated between 75 and 77. South Africa has the highest crime index in Africa and ranks as the fifth most dangerous country globally according to the same index.

In FY 2022/2023, the suburb of Johannesburg Central in the Gauteng province of South Africa had the highest number of contact crime recorded incidents, with 4,208 reports. Nyanga (Western Cape) followed with 4,045 reports. Combining the number of incidents in all 15 hot-spot areas accounts for around eight percent of the total number of contact crimes in the observed period.

Saint Kitts and Nevis saw a murder rate of 65 per 100,000 inhabitants, making it the most dangerous country for this kind of crime worldwide as of 2023. Interestingly, El Salvador, which long had the highest global homicide rates, has dropped out of the top 20 after a high number of gang members have been incarcerated. Meanwhile, Celaya in Mexico was the most dangerous city for murders. Violent conflicts worldwide Notably, these figures do not include deaths that resulted from war or a violent conflict. While there is a persistent number of conflicts worldwide, resulting casualties are not considered murders. Partially due to this reason, homicide rates in Latin America are higher than those in Afghanistan or Syria. A different definition of murder in these circumstances could change the rate significantly in some countries. Causes of death Also noteworthy is that murders are usually not random events. In the United States, the circumstances of murders are most commonly arguments, followed by narcotics incidents and robberies. Additionally, murders are not a leading cause of death. Heart diseases, strokes and cancer pose a greater threat to life than violent crime.

In FY 2022/2023, the township of Inanda in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa had the highest number of recorded sexual offenses, with 373 reports. This accounts for less than one percent of all sexual offense cases reported in South Africa during the observed period. The town of Lusikisiki followed, with 324 cases recorded in the Eastern Cape province.

In 2023, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had Africa's highest organized crime index in Africa, scoring 7.35 points. Nigeria ranked second with a total of 7.28 points. To follow, other African countries with significant criminality levels were South Africa, Kenya, Libya, and the Central African Republic. Main criminal markets in Africa Human trafficking is the main type of crime perpetrated in Africa. In 2022, over 21,700 human trafficking victims were identified in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most victims of trafficking in persons on the continent are girls and women, who are predominantly victims of forced labor and sexual exploitation. Other common forms of criminality in Africa are financial crimes, as well as arms trafficking, which include the illegal trade of unauthorized small arms, ammunition, and explosives. Terrorism across Africa In recent years, terrorism has spread at particularly high levels in some African countries. Nigeria, headquarter of the Boko Haram terrorist group, has been facing high levels of crime, violence, and poor national security, and ranked among the highest 10 countries in the global terrorism index in 2022. However, Nigeria and Niger have seen improvements between 2020 and 2022, with the hot spot area in the region moving more towards the border area between Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Furthermore, terrorism tends to have adverse effects on the economy. For example, the economic impact of terrorist acts between 2007 and 2019 in Nigeria amounted to around 142 billion U.S. dollars.

As of the fiscal year 2023/2024, the total number of contact crimes in South Africa amounted to 678,701 cases. This represents an increase of around 3.8 percent from the previous year. The category with the highest number of criminal incidences was common assault, with 190,399 reported cases. Moreover, attempted murder saw the largest percentage increase at 13.2 percent.

In the third quarter of 2023/2024, contact crime in South Africa continues to increase except for reports relating to sexual offenses, which recorded 15,284 cases. This is a slight decrease from 15,545 recorded in the previous year. Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm accounted for the majority of contact crime reports in the third quarter of 2023/2024, whereas assault was the most commonly reported contact crime in the same quarter in 2022/2023.

In FY 2024, Harare in the Western Cape province of South Africa had the highest number of carjackings, with 385 recorded incidences. This accounts for around two percent of the total number of carjackings in the observed period. Nyanga (Western Cape) followed with 338 reports.

As of the 2021/2022 fiscal year, a total of 608,059 contact crimes were recorded in South Africa. Common assault contributed to around 170,000 cases, followed by assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, accounting for almost 163,000 offenses. In comparison, murder and attempted murder were ranked low on the list. Taking a wider view, 25,204 murders and 22,132 attempted murders average around 69 murders and almost 61 attempted murders per day.

According to monthly surveys conducted from January 2023 to December 2024, the share of the respondents in South Africa worried about crime and violence in the country was one of the highest among the countries taking part in the online study. During the period under review, the share of participants concerned about violence and crime in South Africa fluctuated between 50 percent, observed in January 2023, and a peak of 67 percent, registered in March 2023. This notable increase in concerned respondents is likely due to the escalating levels of violent crime the country is experiencing.

As of the 2023/2024 fiscal year, 75,871 women in South Africa were reported as victims of selected contact crimes. Assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm had the highest number of incidences, with 63,054 cases. This accounts for approximately 35 percent of the overall number of assaults GBH registered.

As of the 2023/2024 fiscal year, only a fraction of the total number of murder and sexual offense cases reported to the South African police was brought to trial by the National Prosecuting Authority. Of the 5,276 sexual offense cases that went to trial, 3,813 ended up with a secure conviction.

In FY 2022/2023, the township of Inanda in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa had the highest number of recorded rape incidents, with 321 reports. This accounts for almost four percent of all rape cases reported in the province during the observed period. The town of Thohoyandou followed, contributing around seven percent to the overall rape reports in the Limpopo province, with 265 cases.

As of the 2023/2024 fiscal year, the number of convictions in relation to the amount of cases was relatively high. However, when compared to the total number of contact crimes committed in the same period, sexual offense reports amounted to 53,285, but only 5,276 of these cases ended up in court, and just 3,813 of these cases resulted in a conviction.

In FY 2023, there was a total of 22,742 carjackings in South Africa. This presents an increase of 1,819 incidences of carjackings since the previous year, which recorded 20,923 reports. Over the observed period, FY 2023 recorded the highest number of carjacking crimes in the country, while FY 2012 had the lowest number of occurrences.

In 2023, Toyota was the most common brand of car that hijackers targeted in South Africa. Close to 32 percent of all hijacked vehicles were reported as Toyota, followed by Volkswagen, which contributed around 14 percent of all hijacking cases. These brands are also the most popular cars among South African motorists. In general, hijackers tend to target Toyota Hilux, Fortuner, and Etios ranges. Among the Volkswagen brand of motor vehicles, the VW Polo coupe, hatchback, and sedans are the most frequently stolen.   Carjacking incidences The number of carjackings in South Africa has made notable increases over the last few years, with the fiscal year 2023/2024 reaching a record high of almost 23 thousand. Harare in the Western Cape had the highest incidences of carjackings in the country in the same fiscal year. Crime in South Africa According to the crime index ranking, South Africa was the most dangerous country in Africa in 2024. Globally, it has had one of the highest murder rates, registering around 36 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. A survey conducted in December in the same period showed that around 54 percent of South Africans were worried about crime and violence as a result of the rising levels of violent crime in the country.