The Criminal Justice Monitor tracks selected indicators of crime and the performance of the criminal justice system on a bi-annual basis. Statistics cover serious crimes reported to the police. The Monitor relies on the latest available statistics as supplied by official sources. Where these are unavailable at the time of publication, ad hoc indicators are used.
Changing crime levels
The crimes included below cover the 20 most serious and prevalent crimes recorded by the police. They account for over 99% of the volume of all serious crime recorded by the police.
- Measured on a per capita basis (per 100000 of the population) for the periods January to May for every year from 1994 onwards, crime levels were at their lowest in 1997 and at their highest in 2000 (Figure 1). In the period January to May 2000 some 2300 crimes were recorded for every 100000 people living in South Africa.
Figure 1 Number of crimes recorded per 100 000 of the population, January to May 1994 - 2000
Source: SAPS Crime Information Analysis Centre (CIAC)
- Measured on a per capita basis the greatest increase in recorded crime since 1994 occurred between 1998-99 (6.5%), followed by 1999-2000 (5.2%).
- If violent crimes only are measured, the first five months of 2000 show the highest per capita level for the same five months period from 1994 onwards (Figure 2). In the period January to May 2000 just under 755 violent crimes were recorded per 100000 of the population, compared to 697 per 100000 in the same period in 1999. Violent crimes are the crimes of murder, attempted murder, rape, and all forms of robbery and assault.
Figure 2 Number of violent crimes recorded per 100 000 of the population,
January to May 1994 - 2000
Source: SAPS Crime Information Analysis Centre (CIAC)
- The greatest annual increase in the number of recorded violent crimes as a ratio to the population occurred between 1999-2000 (8.2%), followed by 1998-99 (7.1%).
- In 1999 some 1745 violent crimes were recorded per 100000 of the population, up from 1 596 in 1994 (an increase of 9.3%). In 1999 the Northern Cape experienced the highest rate of recorded violent crime (3190 per 100000 people living in that province). Between 1994 and 1999 North West province experienced the greatest increase in the per capita number of violent crimes recorded: 19.1%, followed by Northern Cape (18.7%) and Mpumalanga (16.4%). The Free State was the only province to experience a decline over this period: -0.4% (Figure 3).
Figure 3 Violent crimes recorded per 100 000 of the population, 1994 and 1999
Source: SAPS Crime Information Analysis Centre (CIAC)
- Between 1998 and 1999 the actual number of crimes recorded increased by 7% (Figure 4). Several serious crimes increased at a faster rate than the average between 1998 and 1999 such as all forms of robbery and assault and theft other than shoplifting. Rape increased at a slower rate than the average and murder and car theft decreased.
Figure 4 % change in selected crimes reported to police between 1998 and 1999
Source: SAPS Crime Information Analysis Centre (CIAC)
Justice
Prison sentences have become longer in recent years — especially at the upper end of the scale. In 1995 some 1.9% of all prisoners had received a prison sentence of more than 10 years. By 1999 almost 5% of prisoners had received a prison sentence of such a duration (Figure 5). The proportion of prisoners receiving a prison sentence of less than six months decreased from 54.1% in 1995 to 49.3% in 1999.
Figure 5 Distribution of prison sentences, 1995 - 1999
Source: Department of Correctional Services
Prisons
There are 236 prisons in South Africa made up as follows:
- 8 female prisons
- 12 youth correctional facilities
- 89 prisons accommodating male and female inmates
- 115 male prisons
- 12 prisons temporarily closed down for renovations
- Between June 1994 and May 2000 the number of sentenced prisoners increased by 37%. The number of awaiting trial prisoners increased by 217% (Figure 6).
Figure 6 Change in prisoner numbers, January 1994 - May 2000
Source: Department of Correctional Services
- Between December 1999 and May 2000 the number of awaiting trial prisoners as a proportion of total prisoner numbers increased slightly from 35.8% to 36%.
- In 1995 South Africa’s prisons had an approved occupancy level of 94381 but were holding 112572 inmates. During that year the average overpopulation level was 19% (Figure 7). In May 2000 the approved occupancy level was 100 384 but the prisons were holding 171880 inmates (an overpopulation level of 71%).
Figure 7 Prison overcrowding levels, 1995 - 2000
Source: Department of Correctional Services
