On February 21, 2025, South Africa’s Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, shared the latest police statistics for the third quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year.
The data covers the period from October 1 to December 31, 2024, and presents a mix of both troubling and positive news.
Murder and Rape Rates Still High but Show Improvement
The statistics reveal a shocking number of murders in South Africa during this period, with an average of 75.6 murders per day, or 3.15 every hour.
However, the most eye-opening detail is that, despite the horrific loss of life, this number represents a decrease when compared to the same period in 2023.
Minister Mchunu confirmed that the country had seen a 9.8% decrease in murders, with 6,953 recorded deaths between October and December 2024, compared to 7,710 in the same period the previous year.
Rape cases also saw a reduction, with a 3.3% drop — 11,803 reported incidents in 2024 versus 12,211 in 2023.
Details of Murder Cases
Out of the 6,953 murders, the police highlighted several key categories:
- 1,453 were related to arguments
- 405 were robbery-related
- 389 were the result of vigilante justice
- 294 were gang-related killings
- 57 were taxi-related murders
The majority of victims (82.2%) were men, with 961 women and 273 children among those tragically murdered. Firearms were the weapon of choice in many of these incidents, with 2,886 cases involving guns.
Farm Murders and Regional Hotspots
The report also noted that 12 murders took place on farms during this quarter.
Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal were the worst affected provinces, together accounting for nearly half of the national murder rate—25% from Gauteng and 21.4% from KwaZulu-Natal.
The Eastern Cape (18.9%) and the Western Cape (17.4%) also contributed significantly to the national toll.
The Western Cape, in particular, continues to face severe issues with gang-related violence, accounting for 263 of the murders during this period.
Areas such as Bishop Lavis, Mitchells Plain, Kleinvlei, Delft, and Elsies River are especially notorious for such violent acts.
Stock Theft Sees a Decline, But Issues Persist
In a slightly brighter piece of news, stock theft across the country dropped by 4.5%.
However, the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, and Eastern Cape are still struggling with this form of crime, and the Minister emphasized that stronger measures will be taken to address livestock theft in these areas.
Addressing Police Targeting and Crime Prevention
Minister Mchunu also issued a stern warning to criminals involved in targeting police officers and highlighted that “no one should consider themselves untouchable.”
He stressed the importance of taking action against those responsible for these crimes and ensuring that the law applies to everyone, regardless of their status.
Final Thoughts
The most recent crime statistics show some progress in reducing certain categories of crime, such as murder and rape, but they also highlight ongoing challenges, particularly in gang violence and stock theft.
The government remains committed to addressing these issues with targeted interventions and stronger security measures.
What are your thoughts on these crime statistics and the government’s response? Feel free to share your comments or send us a message.