Cabinet has approved the long-awaited report on the study of the violent nature of crime in South Africa for tabling in Parliament.

Briefing the media on Thursday on the outcomes of Wednesday's regular Cabinet meeting, government communications deputy CEO Vusi Mona said that Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa would also release the report for public comment.

The study - by the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) - was commissioned in 2007 by then safety and security minister Charles Nqakula.

In August last year, Mthethwa said that the report had been completed, but declined to release it, saying that it was still being considered by the justice, crime prevention, and security cluster of ministries.

In a preliminary report, released almost exactly a year before, the CSVR blamed poverty for being one of the major factors contributing to the surge in violent crimes. Poverty played a role in the commission of serious offences, such as murder, rape and aggravated robbery.

"High levels of inequality contribute to undermining self-confidence and self-respect," it said.

It also found the acceptance by many South Africans that crime and violence were normal characteristics of society, contributed to the rise in serious offences.