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Data released by Statistics South Africa showed that an estimated 1.4 million incidences of housebreaking occurred in the last financial year, representing 5.4% of all households in the country.
Statistician-General, Risenga Maluleke released the results of the Victims of Crime report from the Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey on Tuesday.
The report covers the experience of specific types of crime by households and individuals, the incidences, and the reporting of crime.
According to the report, about 59% of households that experienced housebreaking reported some or all incidences to the police.
"The percentage of households that reported the incidences to the police increased from 56.1% in 2020/21 to 59.2% in 2021/22," Maluleke said.
Stats SA said the second most common type of crime experienced by households is "home robbery, affecting 155 000 households."
"Assault is the third most common type of crime, affecting 99 000 households."
Maluleke said the data showed that the experience of crime by households increased for housebreaking, home robbery, assault, and murder.
The theft of motor vehicles from households declined from 81 000 in 2020/21 to 42 000 in 2021/22.
Stats SA said a total of 99 000 households experienced assault in 2021/22, almost double the 2020/21 figures.
"Assault was most likely to be experienced by female-headed households and households in non-metro areas," he said.
"Generally, feelings of safety have been declining since 2019/20," Maluleke said.
