Stats SA crime report reveals that 60% of women suffer at the hands of spouses

JOHANNESBURG - Stats SA’s victim crime report has revealed that 60% of crimes against women in the country are committed by spouses, friends, acquaintances and other relatives.

The latest report examining the 2024/2025 period has highlighted that in most assault cases reported by women, the perpetrators are known to their victims.

The annual report was released this morning during a briefing in Pretoria.

Statistician-General, Risenga Maluleke, released Stats SA’s victim crime report on Tuesday morning in Pretoria.

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According to the reports, assaults committed against women in the country were done so by people known to them.

"When we combine spouse, friend, and acquaintance, we go above 60% whereas when males are exposed to crime it tends to be an unknown person. So we can see a steep against women in terms of spaces in which they can feel safe and protected; they are not so much safe and protected."

In the majority of the assaults committed in the past year, knives were used as the weapon of choice, followed by guns.