Murder rate falls, sexual offences rise: What the latest crime stats mean for SA

DELIVERING the fourth quarter crime statistics on Friday, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said progress is being made. 

The fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year is the period covering January 1, 2025, to March 31, 2025. The annual crime statistics will be released in September. 

“As the Ministry of Police under the 7th Administration, we have clearly outlined our policing priorities, these include: reducing the murder rate; reducing illegal firearms and tightening controls over legal firearms; fighting gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF); dismantling organised crime, including drug trafficking syndicates, cash-in-transit heists, extortion and kidnappings; tackling gang violence; and combating corruption - both within the SAPS and across the country. Taxi violence is also receiving our attention, as we work together with the Minister of Transport,” Mchunu said. 

A total of 178,757 suspects were arrested in this period under review. 

The police minister highlighted the conversations and concerns about claims of genocide in South Africa. 

“It is claimed that there is 'white genocide' in South Africa, and as evidence, a lot of material has been put into circulation, including in the White House in the USA. These materials include pictures of crosses along a particular road, to name a few. We have respect for the USA as a country, we have respect for the people in that country and for President Trump, but we have no respect for this genocide story at all. It is unfounded,” Mchunu said. 

He explained that there is no denial that levels of crime in South Africa are high, which is of concern, but crime cuts across all divides, and he said his ministry was currently intensifying the fight against crime and criminals.

Mchunu said there has been a decline in various categories of crime and that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is adjusting its methods of fighting crime and adapting to the new trends and threats out there. 

“We are seeing significant decreases in most crime categories when compared to the same period in the preceding financial year. During this quarter, sexual offences, including rape and contact sexual offences, along with commercial crime, have shown increases. These are deeply concerning trends that demand renewed focus and urgent intervention,” Mchunu said.

Murder Stats

All provinces, except the Northern Cape, recorded a decrease in murders, even though the province accounts for just 2% of the national murder statistics.

The four high-crime provinces - Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape - continue to contribute the majority of murder cases nationwide.

Among the top 30 police stations for murder, 13 stations registered lower counts, and two stations recorded no change.

Mchunu also stated that 22 police officers were lost during this period, six on duty and 16 off duty, 10 of whom were stationed in Gauteng. 

“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,” he said. 

Farm attacks

In the fourth quarter, six attacks on rural communities were recorded as follows:

Farm owners - 2

Farm dwellers - 1

Farm employees - 2

Farm manager - 1

“In principle, we do not categorise people by race, but in the context of claims of ‘genocide of white people’, we need to unpack the killings in this category. The two farm owners who were murdered during the fourth quarter were African and not white. Further to that, the two farm employees and one farm manager were also African – it is the one farm dweller who was white,” Mchunu said. 

Rape

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

“To this end, the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS) has launched a 90-day gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) blitz, which began on May 1, 2025. This includes the revival of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on GBVF, tasked with co-ordinating government interventions, resolving systemic bottlenecks, and ensuring measurable progress. NatJoints is leading the coo-rdination of front-line safety and protection efforts,” Mchunu said.

Operation Shanela

In the fourth quarter, 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, with 1,641 illegal firearms and 24,288 rounds of ammunition seized during this reporting period.  

Commercial Crime

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

A total of 656 suspects appeared in court during this quarter: 364 from Serious Organised Crime,  220 from Serious Commercial Crime, and 72 from Serious Corruption. 

Stock theft

An 8.9% decrease in stock theft has been recorded in this quarter.

It was noted that on Wednesday, the Eastern Cape SAPS recovered stolen livestock in Qumbu, Matatiele, Maclear and Tsolo during their operations. The recovered livestock included 231 cattle to the value of R2.7 million, 81 sheep worth over R160,000, and 78 goats worth over R150,000. 

Measures to reinforce policing

“Last month, we convened our National Policing Summit. The insights and resolutions from the various commissions will now move into the implementation phase. We are steadfast in our commitment to building a policing system that is effective, efficient, responsive, and professional - a service that reflects the values and aspirations of our democracy,” Mchunu said. 

The National Policing Policy was approved by Cabinet on May 15, giving effect to Section 206 of the Constitution, which mandates the Minister of Police to determine the National Policing Policy with provincial governments in consideration of the provinces' policing needs and priorities.

The National Policing Policy aims to, amongst others, strengthen police service delivery to communities by ensuring professionalism and efficiencies in policing and is supported by the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy, which seeks to address crime and violence at its root cause. 

“Other enablers which have been identified and which we will be implementing are: the adoption and improvement of technology to enhance detection, response and analysis; strengthening crime intelligence; capacitating and upskilling our detectives; and finally, the improvement of the general environment under which our police officers operate. We are focusing on improving the conditions of our police stations for better citizen experience and conducive working environments for our members; this includes the building of new police stations and the refurbishment of existing ones,” Mchunu said. 

The police minister further urged members of the public to exercise caution when consuming and sharing information, especially on social media, where fake, old or recycled news stories are often circulated to create panic.