Opinion | The numbers matter, but women’s lived reality matters more

By Cassius Selala Every time new crime statistics are released, South Africans rightly ask the same question: Are we winning the fight against crime? When the crime in question is gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), however, there is an even more important question we must ask: Are women and girls safer? The latest crime information from the South African Police Service (SAPS), read alongside the latest Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey released by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), gives us reason to acknowledge progress where it exists, but also to remain deeply concerned about the scale and persistence of violence in our society.

The evidence presents a mixed picture.

There are areas of the broader crime environment where encouraging movements can be observed.

The latest Stats SA survey shows that perceptions of safety have improved in some respects, particularly during the day.

But that sense of safety changes considerably after dark, and the country continues to experience serious levels of violent crime.

For those of us responsible for advancing the rights and safety of women, this is not a moment for complacency.

Nor is it a moment for political point-scoring.

It is a moment for honesty.

The available evidence does not yet allow us to say that GBVF is declining decisively or sustainably.

That distinction matters.

SAPS statistics tell us about crimes that are reported to and recorded by the criminal justice system.

Household surveys such as the Stats SA Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey provide another important lens: they help us understand people’s experiences and perceptions of crime beyond what reaches the police.

We need both.

Indeed, when it comes to GBVF, relying exclusively on police statistics can give us an incomplete picture.