CRIME HOTSPOTS THIS DECEMBER - WHAT TO BE AWARE OF AND HOW TO STAY SAFE

● DECEMBER IN SOUTH AFRICA IS WIDELY RECOGNISED NOT ONLY AS A SEASON OF FESTIVE
CELEBRATION AND SUMMER HOLIDAYS, BUT ALSO AS ONE OF THE MOST
CRIME-INTENSIVE PERIODS OF THE YEAR. ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MANY TRADITIONAL
CRIME CATEGORIES—INCLUDING HOUSE BREAK-INS, ROBBERIES, VIOLENT OFFENCES, AND
OPPORTUNISTIC THEFTS—TEND TO RISE DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON. THIS SURGE IS
LINKED TO A COMBINATION OF FACTORS SUCH AS INCREASED TRAVEL AND HOLIDAY
BREAKS, MORE PEOPLE OUT SHOPPING AND SOCIALISING, VACANT HOMES WHILE
FAMILIES ARE AWAY, AND HIGHER LEVELS OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND SOCIAL
GATHERINGS.
● OVERALL, THE DATA FROM APRIL TO SEPTEMBER 2025 REINFORCES THAT THE WESTERN
CAPE, KWAZULU-NATAL, AND GAUTENG REMAIN AT THE CENTRE OF SOUTH AFRICA'S
MOST SERIOUS CRIME CHALLENGES. TARGETED, PRECINCT-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS WILL BE
ESSENTIAL AS GOVERNMENT AND LAW-ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WORK TO ADDRESS
THESE ENTRENCHED HOTSPOTS
● WE ARE JOINED BY ANDY MASHAILE, SECURITY STRATEGIST AND FORMER CHAIRPERSON
GAUTENG PROVINCIAL COMMUNITY POLICEBOARD IN STUDIO