#VictimsOfCrime: 'People feel that violent crimes are increasing'
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Pretoria – Households have experienced a decline in housebreakings and home robberies between 2010 and 2015/16. This is according to the Victims of Crime Survey 2015/16 conducted by Statistics South Africa.
Dr Pali Lehohla on Tuesday morning released the survey, which focuses on people's perception and experience of crime. They surveyed approximately 30 000 households.
"Despite the improvement over the last five years, South Africans feel that violent and property crimes are increasing to the extent that the majority of households do not feel safe enough to walk alone in parks or to allow their children to play freely in their neighbourhoods," Lehohla said.
The survey also provides evidence of a decline in police visibility during the last five years.
"From 2011 to 2015/16, a noticeable decline was observed in the percentage of households who felt safe walking alone during the day or when it was dark," Lehohla said.
Lehohla also admitted households were losing faith not only in the police but also in the criminal justice system.