Violent crime persists in KwaZulu-Natal despite slight decline in murder cases
The crime statistics for the first and second quarter of this year was finally released on Friday by Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia.
Image: Supplied
While there was a slight decline in murder cases in KwaZulu-Natal between the first and second quarters of this year, the latest crime statistics, show increases for sexual offences, rape, contact crimes and hijackings.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) on Friday released the crime statistics for Quarter 1 and 2. The stats are for the period between April and September.
According to the stats, murder cases dropped from 1,199 in the first quarter (Q1: April to June 2025) to 1,189 cases in the period from July to September 2025 (Q2). However KZN still contributes to more than a fifth of all murders in the country. Many murders continue to occur in public places such as streets, open fields, parking areas and liquor outlets, which mirror national patterns.
The second quarter SAPS figures also show that Inanda, Plessislaer and Umlazi feature among the stations with the most rape cases nationally, while Inanda also records the highest number of house robberies in the country and Verulam ranks fourth.
Contact crimes rose from 26,428 cases in Q1 to 27,174 in Q2 while hijackings rose from 563 to 631. Rape cases increased from 1,844 to 1,969 while overall sexual offences went from 2,304 to 2,433 cases reported between the first and second quarters.
There was a slight decline in house robberies from 1,344 to 1,268 cases and business robberies from 533 to 499 cases over the past two quarters.
Reacting to the statistics, DA KZN spokesperson on Community Safety and Liaison, Riona Gokool MPL, said the figures are deeply troubling. “The DA in KwaZulu-Natal notes with grave concern the province’s quarterly crime statistics,” she said.
“While some indicators show marginal decreases, KZN continues to contribute disproportionately to South Africa’s burden of violent crime.”
She added that stations including Inanda, Umlazi, Plessislaer, Chatsworth, Phoenix, Pinetown and Durban Central “consistently rank among the highest contributors nationally, confirming a persistent crisis in policing, coordination and accountability.”
Gokool warned that even with KZN’s decrease in murder over the past two quarters, the province still accounts for more than a fifth of all murders nationwide.
“Contact crimes such as assault GBH, attempted murder and aggravated robbery remain high,” she said.
“Many of these incidents continue to take place in public spaces, liquor outlets, taxi ranks and residences, revealing gaps in visible policing, intelligence-led operations and by-law enforcement.”
She called for the immediate rollout of a Provincial Joint Crime Response Plan with coordinated operations between SAPS, Metro Police, Traffic, Community Safety and municipal enforcement teams.
She insisted that high-burden stations require strengthened intelligence capacity, targeted operations against gangs and organised criminal networks, and stronger accountability structures.
“Crime is not inevitable,” Gokool said. “With political will, proper planning and genuine accountability, KZN can turn the tide.”
At community level, CPF structures say the crime trends align closely with what they are experiencing.
Dawood Chirwa of the Mariannhill CPF said that murder incidents had been declining in his area.
“Information was shared with crime intelligence, and some of those perpetrators were arrested.”
He noted, however, that sexual offences have shown a slight increase which he linked to the consumption of alcohol.
“There is a slight increase simply because these youngsters consume liquor. Thereafter, the people who are providing liquor to them demand… you know. That’s how it occurred in terms of the increase in sexual offences.”
Chirwa said the CPF has been taking steps to address these trends. “We have community imbizos every month with the station management,” he said.
“We also have the sector forum meetings with the street patrols, of which we have recruited more. And we embark on crime-awareness campaigns at clinics, at the taxi ranks, at the shopping centres and at community meetings. We also ask the community to report such crimes and be part of every activity we embark on.”
As the festive season approaches, Chirwa said the CPF is focused on public awareness and household safety. “We have educated the community, especially those going on vacation, that they must not leave their places unattended,” he said.