South Africa braces for latest crime statistics: Are we still facing 63 murders a day?

South Africa will learn on Friday whether the country’s relentless violent crime crisis has eased, worsened or remained stagnant when Acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia, releases the third quarter crime statistics for the 2025/2026 financial year.

The figures, covering October to December 2025, come after the previous quarterly release revealed that an average of 63 people were murdered every day in South Africa — a statistic that sparked outrage and renewed political pressure on the government to curb violent crime.

That earlier data, previously reported by IOL, also fuelled criticism from opposition parties who warned that communities were under siege amid persistently high levels of murder, armed robbery and gender-based violence.

Cachalia will be joined by Deputy Police Ministers Cassel Mathale and Polly Boshielo, along with national commissioner of SAPS Fannie Masemola, at the GCIS - Ronnie Mamoepa Media Centre in Hatfield, Pretoria.

The October to December period includes the festive season — traditionally associated with spikes in violent crime, alcohol-fuelled assaults and road fatalities — making the upcoming figures particularly significant.

Analysts and civil society groups will be watching closely to see whether intensified festive season operations, high-visibility patrols and targeted policing interventions had any measurable impact on contact crimes, especially murder and attempted murder.

With South Africa still reeling from the reality of more than 60 murders a day in the last reporting cycle, Friday’s statistics are expected to provide a crucial indicator of whether the country is turning a corner — or sinking deeper into a violent crime crisis.

IOL will provide a full breakdown of the statistics and political reaction once the figures are officially released.

jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za

IOL News  

Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now.