During the second quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year, serious crime decreased by 5.1% overall, including murder, contact crime, and rape.
When asked what attributed to the decrease, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu simply responded, saying: “police are at work”.
Mchunu was speaking in Johannesburg on Monday during the release of the second-quarter crime statistics for July 1 to September 30, 2024.
He reported that serious crimes in 17 monitored categories declined by 5.1%. Contact crimes dropped by 3%, property-related crimes by 9.9%, and other serious crimes by 3.4%.
Key improvements included a 5.8% reduction in murders, a 2.5% decrease in sexual offences, and an 8.8% drop in robberies with aggravating circumstances. Rape cases fell by 3.1%, while residential and non-residential robberies declined by 1.3% and 21.1%, respectively.
However, attempted murder, assault GBH, and commercial crime rose by 2.2%, 1.0%, and 18.5%, respectively.
“Despite these gains, high crime rates highlight the urgency of strengthening law enforcement, prevention measures, and community involvement,” Mchunu said.
He noted that Operation Shanela continues to yield significant results, with 262 396 arrests and over eight million actions executed to date.
Public Order Policing achieved 2 756 arrests and confiscated counterfeit goods worth R22.2 million, along with firearms and ammunition.
Mchunu revealed that 17 police officers were murdered during the reporting period — 13 off-duty and four on-duty.
He announced plans to explore how the SAPS can assist families in pursuing civil claims against those responsible, ensuring justice is served financially as well as criminally.
Murders against women saw an 8.6% increase, with a 3.5% increase in attempted murder. Children (boys and girls) experienced a 7.5% increase in murders and a 35.7% increase in attempted murders.
Community Policing Forum national chairperson, Francina Lucas, welcomed the release of the statistics.
“We welcome the fact that we see a reduction of 5.1% in overall reported crimes. We want to thank all those honest and hard-working police officers for contributing towards the reduction,” said Lucas.
She believes that Operation Shanela ensures a high visibility of police on the ground, contributing to the reduction.
DA spokesperson on police, Ian Cameron, stated that the release of the crime statistics shows a step forward in the fight against crime.
“It nonetheless presents no reason for complacency, as our rates of crime remain some of the highest in the world. We must remain steadfast in bringing safety to communities, homes, and businesses,” he said.
Cameron highlighted concerns regarding violent crimes against women and children, noting that while violent crime quarterly has decreased, murders of women have increased by 8.6% and attempted murders by 3.5%.
UNICEF South Africa’s Makiba Yamano expressed sadness over the increase in violence against children despite an overall decrease in crime trends. She emphasised the need to understand the root causes of such violence.
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General, added: “The level of GBVF in South Africa is a consequence of inherited gender prejudices and inequalities. To address this scourge, we must tackle the socio-economic conditions that many citizens face daily.”
Quick Facts
- Murder decreased by 5,8%.
- Sexual offences decreased by 2.5%.
- Robbery with aggravating circumstances decreased by 8,8%.
- Rape decreased by 3.1%.
- 6 545 people were murdered in South Africa an average of 72 every day.
- 10 991 rapes were reported - that’s an average of 122 every day or three every hour.
- 5 447 carjackings - that’s an average of 60 every day.
- Over 35 000 robberies - meaning 388 every day.
The Star