SA Crime Statistics - Definitions

The South African Police Service (SAPS) define criminal cases as found in either the common or that are defined in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act 51 of 1977). While hundreds of crime definitions exist, the SAPS release crime statistics for what are considered as the most serious crime categories. The figures produced within many of these crime categories consist of different types of crime. The SAPS use the following crime categories to release statistics on crime that is reported to them.

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Murder consists of the unlawful and intentional killing of another human being.

Attempted murder consists of the commission of an unlawful act with the intention of killing another human being but does not result in the death of that human being.

Sexual offences This category of crime replaces the former categories of rape and indecent assault. The new definition is contained in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, Act 32 of 2007. This broad crime category includes over 50 crime types relating to sexual crimes, sexual exploitation, sexual grooming, trafficking and pornography.

Common assault is the unlawful and intentional –
a) Direct and indirect application of force to the body of another person, or
b) Threat of application of immediate personal violence to another, in circumstances in which the threatened person is prevailed upon to believe that the person who is threatening him has the intention and power to carry out his threat.

Note: The act may consist of the direct or indirect application of force or threats of force decisive factor is the use of force or violence.

Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm is the unlawful and intentional direct or indirect application of force to the body of another person with the intention of causing grievous bodily harm to that person. Note: The victim does not need to sustain serious injuries. The decisive element is the intention to cause serious injuries.

Common robbery is the unlawful and intentional forceful removal and appropriation of movable tangible property belonging to another. Note: The decisive factor is the use of force or violence. Incidents of robbery (including business and house robbery) are classified as common robbery if no weapon is used.

Robbery with aggravating circumstances is a broad category that includes cases of the unlawful and intentional forceful removal and appropriation in aggravating circumstances of movable tangible property belonging to another. Note: Robbery cases are included in this category if any weapon, not restricted to a firearm, was used to commit the crime. The SAPS record statistics for the following sub-categories of aggravated robbery:

Robbery of a motor vehicle or “hijacking” is the unlawful and intentional forceful removal and appropriation of a motor vehicle (excluding a truck and a light delivery vehicle) belonging to another.
Robbery of a truck is the unlawful and intentional forceful removal and appropriation of a truck (excluding a light delivery vehicle) belonging to another.
Cash-in-transit robbery is the unlawful and intentional forceful removal and appropriation of money or containers for the conveyance of money, belonging to another while such money or containers for the conveyance of money are being transported by a security company on behalf of the owner thereof.
Bank robbery is the unlawful and intentional forceful removal and appropriation of money from a bank during office hours.
Non-residential or business robbery is the unlawful and intentional forceful removal and appropriation of property from the business of another person. This includes schools, government and religious institutions.
Residential or house robbery is the unlawful and intentional forceful removal and appropriation of property from within the residence of another person.

Arson is the unlawful and intentional damaging of an immovable structure which is suitable for human occupation or the storing of goods and which belongs to another, by setting fire to it with the intention to prejudice another.

Malicious damage to property consists of the unlawful and intentional damaging of property belonging to another.

Burglary at residential premises also refered to as “housebreaking” is a crime committed by a person who unlawfully and intentionally breaks into a building or similar structure, used for human habitation, with the intention to commit a crime on the premises.

Burglary at non-residential premises is a crime committed by a person who unlawfully and intentionally breaks into a building or similar structure, which is not used for human habitation and does not form part of residential premises, with the intention to commit a crime on the premises.

Shoplifting consists of stealing an article for sale from a self-service shop during trading hours.

Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle consists of the stealing of a motor vehicle or motorcycle belonging to another person.

Theft out of or from motor vehicle consists of the unlawful and intentional removal of parts, accessories or equipment, that form part of a motor vehicle, or articles in or on the vehicle.

Stock-theft consists of the stealing of stock or produce belonging to another person.

Culpable homicide consists of the unlawful, negligent causing of death of another human being.

Crimen injuria is the unlawful intentional serious infringement of the dignity or privacy of another person.

Public violence is the unlawful and intentional commission, together with a number of people, of an act or acts and which are intended forcibly to disturb public peace and tranquillity or to invade the rights of others.

Kidnapping consists of the unlawful intentional deprivation of a person of his freedom of movement or, if such a person is a child, the unlawful intentional deprivation of a parent of control over the child.

Abduction consists of unlawfully and intentionally removing an unmarried minor from the control of his or her parents or guardian in order to enable someone to marry him or her or to have sexual intercourse with him or her.

Definitions extracted from the SAPS Crime Definition Manual, drafted by SAPS. The full reference is SAPS (2012), Crime Definitions to be utilized by police officials for purposes of the opening of case dockets and the registration thereof on the Crime Administration System, V.001, Issued by Consolidation Notice 2/2012, Pretoria.