South African quarterly crime statistics

 Photo: Bheki Cele/Gallo images

The SAPS released the fourth quarter crime statistics of the 2022/2023 financial year on Tuesday, 30 May. The statistics were recorded between January and March 2023.

Minister of Police, Bheki Cele presented the crime statistics. He said that South African murder rate increased by 3.4% between January and March 2023.

“This is the lowest single-digit decrease recorded, compared to the previous three quarters. Though it is a decrease, these are not just figures but human lives that should be protected at all costs”.

6 289 people were killed between January and March 2023, compared to 6 083 between January and March 2022.That equates to 70 per day. However, across all four quarters April 2022 to March 2023, the SAPS recorded 27 272 murders for the full year, equating to 75 murders per day in South Africa.

 “The majority of the killings took place in the KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng provinces, with arguments, vigilantism and robberies topping the motive list for murder,” said Cele.

KwaZulu-Natal also recorded the highest number of multiple murder cases 206 people were killed in such incidents, followed by the Eastern Cape, which had 155 victims.

In the Western Cape, Free State and Northern Cape, there were decreases in the murder rate. Minister Cele also highlighted that the statistics suggest the Western Cape is “turning the tide” against contact crimes. This decrease is attributed to law enforcement targeting high crime areas like the Cape Flats.

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said that of the country's Top 30 stations showing a year-on-year decline in murder, 36% are LEAP deployment areas. These stations are Harare (-18%), Kraaifontein (-14%), Khayelitsha (-13%), and Mfuleni (-5%). 50% of the Top 30 stations showing contact crime declines are Khayelitsha (-10,8%), Harare (-7%), and Delft (-5%).

JP Smith said that declines from Q3 22/23 to Q4 22/23 in murder in LEAP deployment areas in the Top 30 stations nationally include Gugulethu (25,5%), Mitchells Plain (26,2%), Delft (30,2%), Mfuleni (47,2%), Nyanga (48,5%), Kraaifontein (33,3%), Harare (29,3%) and Khayelitsha (10%).

Nyanga and Mfuleni reported the most crimes in Cape Town

To address murder and other contact crimes, R65 million has been allocated to Top 30 crime heavy stations to address murder and other contact crimes.

“Over and above this additional funding, we are responding directly to calls by communities to increase the capability and training of the Tactical Response Teams (TRT).

 The TRT will deployed at stations and districts in identified high crime areas. These officers will act as force multipliers at local level and assist in policing high-crime areas.

 

Done By: Esona Mfazwe