A total of 17 805 people were killed in South Africa between April 1 2014 and March 31 2015, the country’s crime statistics showed recently.
The murder rate rose again by 4.6 percent from 2013/14 to 2014/15 - meaning 782 more people were killed than the previous year.
In these circumstances, it is not surprising that many people fear that they may become a victim of crime.
Megalen Govender, IOL Mojo staffer and student of Shito Ryu Karate, shares 5 simple ways to defend yourself.
[ View the story "5 simple self-defence techniques that could save your life" on Storify]