House and business robberies escalating in SA

House and business robberies are the country's fastest growing crime and have impacted negatively on the public's perceptions of safety. The findings of the 2007 Victims of Crime Survey in South Africa, released by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), have revealed that robbery has almost doubled to almost 4%, compared to 2003.

Figures for the 2005/06 and 2006/07 financial years showed that house robbery increased by 25.4%, whilst for business the percentage stands at 52.2%.

According to the survey, Gauteng and Kwazulu-Natal recorded the highest cases of house robberies. The lowest is Northern Cape followed by Free State.

The survey was conducted on 4 500 households across the country. It also revealed an increase on the public's fear of crime, despite that crime levels have decreased.

ISS researcher Antoinette Louw says: “It’s likely to cause members of the public to be sceptical about government's interventions even though we know that police have many measures, especially in Gauteng, to deal with home robbery. The violence associated with that crime on its own will make people very vulnerable and afraid".

The survey also showed that the public was less satisfied with policing than in 2003. Many feel that the police are not doing a good job.