Knives are the most commonly used weapon in assaults in South Africa.
This is one of the findings to emerge on Wednesday from the annual Victims of Crime Survey conducted by Statistics South Africa.
The second most used weapon during an assault is a club‚ found the report which “provides an in-depth analysis of the circumstances surrounding contact crime and the effect that these crimes have on the victims and‚ in the case of murder‚ their relatives”.
The survey‚ in conjunction with SAPS statistics for 2014/15‚ Statistics SA’s mid-year population estimates and 2011 census data‚ was used to provide a holistic view of contact crime in the country.
Guns‚ however‚ are the weapon of choice when it comes to murder in urban areas‚ followed by knives.
“More than twenty years since the dawn of democracy in the Republic of South Africa‚ the country continues to face seemingly insurmountable challenges relating to violent crime‚” said Statistician-General Pali Lehohla in a foreword to the report‚ which focused on the crimes of assault‚ sexual offences and murder.
The report found assault to be the most common contact crime‚ often acting as a precursor to other forms of crime‚ including property-related crimes‚ sexual offences and murder.
Yet assault is one of the most under-reported crimes.
“Most of the reasons cited by the victims for not reporting this crime include that they solved it themselves or did not view it as serious enough for the police to intervene‚” said the report.
“This is worrying as it indicates that the methods used to ‘solve’ these crimes were deemed appropriate by the victim or their family or community and as a result‚ may end up perpetuating the cycle of violence.”
Most assaults affecting female victims are perpetrated by known people‚ and in private spaces‚ such as the home. Males are more likely to be assaulted in the street‚ at a bar or tavern and both victim and offender were often under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“This has dire implications not only for policing in public spaces‚ but it also has economic and public health consequences‚” said the report.
The report noted that a “significant portion of women experienced sexual offences” at work.
“This‚ without a doubt‚ impacts negatively on economic participation and may ultimately lead to forced withdrawal from the workplace.”
It recommended that employers implement plans to “protect female employees and effectively address any incidents of sexual violence.”
Knife the weapon of choice for assaults
This is one of the findings to emerge on Wednesday from the annual Victims of Crime Survey conducted by Statistics South Africa.
The second most used weapon during an assault is a club‚ found the report which “provides an in-depth analysis of the circumstances surrounding contact crime and the effect that these crimes have on the victims and‚ in the case of murder‚ their relatives”.
The survey‚ in conjunction with SAPS statistics for 2014/15‚ Statistics SA’s mid-year population estimates and 2011 census data‚ was used to provide a holistic view of contact crime in the country.
Guns‚ however‚ are the weapon of choice when it comes to murder in urban areas‚ followed by knives.
“More than twenty years since the dawn of democracy in the Republic of South Africa‚ the country continues to face seemingly insurmountable challenges relating to violent crime‚” said Statistician-General Pali Lehohla in a foreword to the report‚ which focused on the crimes of assault‚ sexual offences and murder.
The report found assault to be the most common contact crime‚ often acting as a precursor to other forms of crime‚ including property-related crimes‚ sexual offences and murder.
Yet assault is one of the most under-reported crimes.
“Most of the reasons cited by the victims for not reporting this crime include that they solved it themselves or did not view it as serious enough for the police to intervene‚” said the report.
“This is worrying as it indicates that the methods used to ‘solve’ these crimes were deemed appropriate by the victim or their family or community and as a result‚ may end up perpetuating the cycle of violence.”
Most assaults affecting female victims are perpetrated by known people‚ and in private spaces‚ such as the home. Males are more likely to be assaulted in the street‚ at a bar or tavern and both victim and offender were often under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“This has dire implications not only for policing in public spaces‚ but it also has economic and public health consequences‚” said the report.
The report noted that a “significant portion of women experienced sexual offences” at work.
“This‚ without a doubt‚ impacts negatively on economic participation and may ultimately lead to forced withdrawal from the workplace.”
It recommended that employers implement plans to “protect female employees and effectively address any incidents of sexual violence.”
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