Slight decrease in murder rate - crime stats

Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, says urgent intervention is needed to reduce crime in the country.

Mchunu and National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, released the fourth quarterly crime statistics of the 2024/2025 financial year, covering the period from 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025.

Five thousand seven hundred and twenty-seven (5 727) people were murdered in South Africa between January and March 2025. This is 807 less (12.4%) compared to the same period as 2024.

All the provinces, excluding the Northern Cape, recorded decreases in murder incidents.

‘’The Northern Cape, despite contributing only 2% to the national murder statistics, recorded an increase, which cannot be ignored and will be addressed with targeted actions,’’ said Mchunu.

COURTESY: X - @SAPoliceService

The four high-crime provinces—Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and the Eastern Cape, contributed the bulk of murder incidents nationally.

‘’Yet, when compared to the same period last year, the current statistics offer some encouragement. Among the top 30 police stations for murder, 13 stations registered lower counts, and two stations recorded no change. We will continue to intensify our efforts to reduce the overall murder rate,’’ said Mchunu.

During this quarter, sexual offences, including rape and contact sexual offences, along with commercial crime, have shown increases.

‘’While we have not yet reached our ultimate goals, these figures confirm that we are indeed making significant progress. We must however, be clear-eyed about the challenges that remain.

‘’These are deeply concerning trends that demand renewed focus and urgent intervention. Let me be unequivocal: every crime that is reported in South Africa, is recorded and accounted for by the South African Police Service – whether it occurs in an urban area or in the most remote and rural areas..’’ he added.

In respect of sexual offences, rape increased. Gauteng and KZN contribute 19.1% and 19.9% respectively to the national total. In the quarter under review, decreases in rape statistics were recorded in Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, North West, and the Western Cape.

‘’While we acknowledge that GBV+F affects all genders, women remain disproportionately affected by rape, assault GBH, and murder. Our resolve to fight GBV+F is unwavering. To this end, the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS) has launched a 90-day GBV+F blitz, which began on 1 May 2025. This includes the revival of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on GBV+F, tasked with coordinating government interventions, resolving systemic bottlenecks, and ensuring measurable progress. NatJoints is leading the coordination of frontline safety and protection efforts,’’ said Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

Commercial crime increased by 1 581 counts in the fourth quarter, representing a 4.7% rise. Gauteng (12,074) and the Western Cape (7,244) recorded the highest numbers.

COURTESY: SAPS

Twenty-two police officers lost their lives in the first three months of the year - six while on duty, and 16 while off duty, with 10 of those in Gauteng alone.

‘’This is not just a loss to the SAPS but to the entire nation. Let me be clear: an attack on a police officer is an attack on the state, and those responsible will face the full might of the law,’’ said Mchunu.

The police minister stressed that firearms remain the most frequently used instruments in the commission of murder, followed by knives.

‘’One of our stated priorities is the reduction of illegal firearms and the tightening of control over legally owned firearms. In the quarter under review, 4 023 cases of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were registered—a 2.7% increase compared to the same period last year. A total of 16 049 firearms were destroyed by the SAPS in February this year. In addition, Operation Shanela continues to deliver results. 1641 illegal firearms and 24 288 rounds of ammunition were seized during this reporting period.’’

COURTESY: SAPS

Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu urged the public to exercise caution when consuming and sharing information, especially on social media platforms, where old or recycled news stories are often circulated to create panic.

‘’These outdated reports can give the false impression that crime is spiralling out of control, when in fact they do not reflect the current reality. We remind the public to remain vigilant against fake news and misinformation. For accurate and timely updates on incidents, please rely on official SAPS communication channels, as we remain committed to keeping communities informed and safe at all times.’’

Mchunu admits that a long road is ahead to fight crime, but insists that they are making progress.

‘’And together, with an informed, engaged, and responsible society, we will win this fight against crime.’’

 

Done by: Mitchum George