A staggering new global Gallup poll has revealed what many South Africans already know—walking alone feels like a gamble with their safety. In a shocking statistic, 70% of South Africans say they don’t feel safe walking by themselves, making the country one of the most dangerous places in the world according to its citizens, alongside Ecuador and Liberia.
For bartender Gugu Xakaza, 32, this harsh reality hit home when she was mugged by two men on her way back from the grocery store. That traumatic experience marked the last time she ever considered walking alone.
“I’d never walk around these streets,” she says firmly. “South Africa’s crime is out of control, and it’s especially unsafe for women. You just never know what could happen—better to be safe than sorry.”
Sadly, Gugu’s fear isn’t an isolated one. Many South Africans share her anxiety. Twenty-three-year-old Karabo Faith nearly became another statistic herself when she was almost mugged one night while walking home.
“We were terrified,” Karabo recalls. “One guy demanded our phones, and just as we thought it was over, the police showed up. We were lucky, but that fear stays with you.”
This growing fear is part of a larger, more troubling trend highlighted by Gallup’s annual global safety survey. Among 140 countries, South Africa ranks near the bottom in terms of how safe citizens feel walking alone—significantly lower than the global average. Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole has consistently shown the highest levels of fear, with the region’s safety perception dropping further than any other in the last two decades.
Gallup’s Julie Ray pointed to this long-standing trend. “Sub-Saharan Africa has ranked amongst the least safe regions in terms of people’s perceptions for almost two decades,” Ray explains, underscoring the chronic nature of the issue.
In stark contrast, citizens in countries like Kuwait, Singapore, and Norway feel overwhelmingly safe, with fewer than 10% reporting any sense of danger when walking alone.
Women in South Africa, in particular, feel less safe than men, exacerbated by a lack of confidence in law enforcement. Despite police efforts, many remain skeptical about the force’s ability to tackle the rampant crime. In response to the report, Athlenda Mathe, spokesperson for the South African Police Services, expressed the department’s commitment to improving safety.
“We are making inroads in clamping down on all forms of criminality. Our main goal is to make South Africa a safer place so that people can walk freely,” Mathe said.
However, the statistics paint a grim picture. Between April and June alone, over 6,000 murders and 9,000 rapes were recorded in South Africa, amounting to shockingly high rates of 10 murders and 15 rapes per 100,000 people. These staggering figures underscore just how critical the situation has become.
As the country grapples with these harrowing realities, the question remains: Will South Africans ever feel safe walking alone again? With crime levels soaring and trust in law enforcement waning, the path to restoring safety feels long and uncertain. Until real change is made, the fear that grips everyday life in South Africa will continue to shadow the lives of millions.
