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Our index is derived from an extensive survey and official South Africa Police reports, providing a unique insight into the safety landscape for women. It revealed that Limpopo is the safest province, with an overall safety rating of 91.11 out of 100. However, the precipitous decline becomes evident as the next safest province, Mpumalanga, has an overall safety score of only 68.58. North West and Northern Cape follow closely. Significantly lower scores are held by KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Gauteng, with 42,38, 37.81 and 37.65 respectively. Overall, the Western Cape emerged as the least safe province for women, with a safety score of just 37.47.

Our index revealed that Limpopo is the safest province, with an overall safety rating of 91.11 out of 100, followed by Mpumalanga, scoring 68.58, then North West and Northern Cape follow closely. Significantly lower scores are held by KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Gauteng. Overall, the Western Cape emerged as the least safe province for women, with a safety score of just 37.47.

This included survey insights from more than 6,000 female respondents highlighting perceptions of safety whilst doing various everyday actions, like walking alone during the day or night, driving alone, being at home alone, going out with friends, and also experiences of being a victim of crime. Respondents could provide responses that ranged from ‘completely safe’, ‘safe’, ‘neither safe nor unsafe’, ‘unsafe’ and ‘completely unsafe’.

Additionally, reported crime statistics per 100,000 capita were considered within the Safest Provinces Index scoring. This included serious crimes (murders, sexual offences and rape), assaults with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, carjackings, robberies at residential premises, property-related crimes, burglaries, and theft of motor vehicles.

Taking these data points into account, the province scoring the highest overall safety score is Limpopo, which emerged as the province where the female population felt the safest. They boast consistently high safety scores across all categories and reported the lowest number of annual crimes, including assault and murder.

While the Northern Cape and North West exhibit some areas of concern, with high crime figures for specific categories of ‘Reported theft of motor vehicles’ and ‘Reported burglaries,’ both provinces scored very well in the overall category of ‘Feeling safe in the province.’
However, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Free State showed mixed safety performances across all categories. Gauteng follows closely behind, with most respondents feeling unsafe, especially in the ‘Walking alone at night’ category.
The Western Cape emerged as the least safe province for women, scoring particularly low for the categories ‘Being homealone’ and ‘Going out with friends’ categories.

Additionally, reported crime statistics per 100,000 capita were considered within the Safest Provinces Index scoring. This included serious crimes, like assaults with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, carjackings, robberies at residential premises, burglaries, and theft of motor vehicles.
Considering these data points, the province scoring the highest overall safety score is Limpopo. Which boasts consistently high safety scores across all categories and reported the lowest number of annual crimes, including assault and murder.
While the Northern Cape and North West exhibit some areas of concern, with high crime figures for certain categories, both provinces scored very well in the overall category of ‘Feeling safe in the province.’ However, the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Free State showed mixed safety performances across all categories. Gauteng follows closely behind, with most respondents feeling unsafe. The Western Cape emerged as the least safe province for women.

The survey delves further into women’s lives,exposing the vulnerabilities felt while performing basic and routine activities. A startling 98% express feeling unsafe when walking alone at night. Anxieties extend to the simple act of driving alone, where 77% of women admitto feeling unsafe. Even the prospect of going out with friends becomes tinged with unease for 63% of respondents. The sanctity of one's home, typically considered a refuge, is shattered for 54% of women who feel unsafe being alone within its walls.

The South African Police Services 2023 Crime Report figures paint an equally disturbing pictureof vulnerability, with a staggering 68,191 sexual offences and rapes recorded, laying bare the threat women face in their everyday lives. Furthermore, 115,578 residential burglaries were reported, underscoring the reason for distress and fear of invasion into one’s home. Additionally, an unsettling number of 45,462 motor vehicle thefts and hijackings reveal how women have to deal with the dangers posed by the simple act of commuting. These statistics are stark reminders of the urgent need for intervention to address women's safety concerns.

Amid these findings, there is also insight into potential solutions. Women offer several suggestions to make South Africa a safer place. The call for visible 24/7 police patrols reflects a plea for increased security and a strong police presence to deter potential offenders. Simultaneously, the demand for tighter legislation and harsher punishments for offenders underscores the need for a robust legal framework that serves effective justice for victims.

Free self-defence classes, improved streetlights, and surveillance cameras are all suggestions that empower women tonavigate their surroundings confidently. Many respondents' suggested safety strategies include travelling with a partner, avoiding “dangerous places”, refraining from driving at night, and carrying self-defence tools like pepperspray, highlighting how women are adapting to a challenging environment.

The survey exposes the vulnerabilities women feel while performing basic and routine activities; 98% feel unsafe when walking alone at night, 77% when driving alone, 63% are uneasy going out with friends, even the sanctity of one's home, typically considered a refuge, is shattered for 54% of women who feel unsafe being home alone. The South African Police Services 2023 Crime Report figures paint an equally disturbing picture of vulnerability, with a staggering 68,191 sexual offences and rapes recorded, 115,578 residential burglaries reported and 45,462 motor vehicle thefts and hijackings. Amid these findings, there is also insight into potential solutions. Women offer several suggestions to make South Africa a safer place. The call for visible 24/7 police patrols reflect a plea for increased security and a strong police presence to deter potential offenders. Simultaneously, the demand for tighter legislation and harsher punishments for offenders underscores the need for a robust legal framework that serves effective justice for victims.

1st For Women asked 6,596 South African women a series of questions regarding their perceived feelings of safety within their province, and combined these results with data from the 2023 South Africa police report crime stats for January to September.

1st For Women asked 6,596 South African women a series of questions regarding their perceived feelings of safety within their province, and combined these results with data from the 2023 South Africa police report crime stats for January to September.

To provide a more accurate comparison of results, the number of responses were divided by the overall number of respondents per province and stats from the police report were calculated per 100,000 capita per province. Each province was then ranked across 20 factors, giving each a normalised score out of 100 for each factor, before taking an average final score across all 20 metrics to give our overall ‘Safety Rating’. The factors were:

To provide a more accurate comparison of results, the number of responses were divided by the overall number of respondents per province and stats from the police report were calculated per 100,000 capita per province.

Each province was then ranked accross 20 factors, giving each a normalised score out of 100 for each factor, before taking an average final score across all 20 metrics to give our overall ‘Safety Rating’. The factors were:

1. Number of respondents who consider province for women "completely unsafe" or "unsafe"
2. Number of respondents who consider walking alone during the day "completely unsafe" or "unsafe"
3. Number of respondents who consider walking alone at night "completely unsafe" or "unsafe"
4. Number of respondents who consider driving alone "completely unsafe" or "unsafe"
5. Number of respondents who consider being at home alone "completely unsafe" or "unsafe"
6. Number of respondents who consider going out with friends "completely unsafe" or "unsafe"
7. Number of respondents who have been a victim of crime in their current province
8. Number of respondents who would consider leaving South Africa due to safety concerns
9. Number of community-reported serious crimes
10. Number of reported murders
11. Number of reported sexual offences
12. Number of reported rapes
13. Number of reported assaults with intent to inflict GBH
14. Number of reported carjackings
15. Number of reported robberies at residential premises
16. Number of reported truck hijackings
17. Number of reported property-related crimes
18. Number of reported burglaries at residential premises
19. Number of reported thefts of motor vehicles and motorcycles
20. Number of reported thefts of or from motor vehicles

Sources:

Survey of 6,596 South African women conducted by 1st For Women via Facebook Groups
The Village (www.facebook.com/groups/TheVillageHQ/) and 1 Family, 1Stockpile (www.facebook.com/groups/457345194471493/) [August 2022]
 
South African Police Service Crime Statistics for January - March 2023, April - June202 & July - September 2023: Available from: https://www.saps.gov.za/ [Accessed 19/01/24]
 
Population figures - SA 2022 Census: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1112169/total-population-of-south-africa-by-province/[Accessed 19/01/24]