Overview of CSI spend on safety and security in 2024

National context of safety and security in South Africa

• The peace and security budget increased from R227.3 billion in 2023/24 to R244 billion in 2024/25, constituting 10.3% of consolidated government expenditure of R2.37 trillion for the year. Of this, police services received R125 billion, law courts and prisons R54.4 billion, defence and state security R53.5 billion, and home affairs R11.1 billion.  
• The South African Police Services’ crime statistics for the 2023/24 financial year showed a 4% increase in contact crimes from the previous year to 678 701 incidents, including 27 621 murders and 53 285 sexual offences.  
• The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Bill was signed into law on 24 May 2024, establishing the National Council to coordinate and provide strategic leadership in the fight against GBVF (see viewpoint on page 190).  
• In October 2024, the Department of Employment and Labour launched the Occupational Health and Safety Prevention Accord, focusing on enhancing collaboration, preventing workplace injuries and promoting a culture of safety across various sectors. 
• The Institute for Economics and Peace’s Global Peace Index 2024 report found that the average level of country peacefulness deteriorated in 2024. This is the fifth consecutive year that global peacefulness has deteriorated. South Africa improved slightly to 127 out of 163 countries, from 130 in 2023.  
• The global Financial Action Task Force greylisted South Africa in February 2023, subjecting it to additional oversight because of eight areas of deficiencies in tackling money laundering and illicit financial flows. As at June 2024, the country has addressed eight of the 22 action items and needs to address the remaining 14 by February 2025 for it to be removed from the greylist by June 2025.  

Overview of CSI spend  

Safety and security interventions were supported by 15% of companies and received 1% of average CSI expenditure. 

Type of intervention

Average % CSI safety and security spent 2024 n=8

25% Road safety

21% National anti-crime/ safety campaigns

13% Infrastructure, facilities and equipment

12% Non-specific general donations

10% Support of relevant authorities

9% Capacity-building/ empowerment programmes

5% Community policing Forums

5% Gangsterism/ school crime

• In 2024, a quarter of average CSI spend in safety and security (25%) went to supporting road safety initiatives, an increase from only 5% in 2023. 
• National anti-crime/safety campaigns received a fifth (21%) of average expenditure in the sector. 
• CSI spend on infrastructure, facilities and equipment increased from 6% in 2023 to 13% in 2024.