Murder Drops but Rape and Fraud Rise: What SA’s Latest Crime Stats Reveal

South Africa’s fight against violent crime is gaining traction—but not without setbacks. That’s the message from Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who on Friday presented the Q4 crime statistics for the 2024/25 financial year.

While the numbers show a drop in murder across most provinces, a rise in rape cases and commercial crimes has sparked concern.

“We are seeing progress, but we still have a long road ahead,” said Mchunu.

Murder Declines, But Not in Every Province

Encouragingly, murders are down in all provinces except the Northern Cape. Four high-crime provinces—Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape—remain the epicentres for homicide, but even these have shown improvement.

Some of the country’s most dangerous precincts recorded fewer murder cases, and 13 of the top 30 stations for murder saw decreases.

Sexual Offences on the Rise

Not all the news was good. Sexual offences, including rape, climbed in key regions. Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal were responsible for nearly 40% of reported rapes nationally. Despite declines in other provinces, the overall trend is upwards.

To address this, the government launched a 90-day GBV and femicide blitz on May 1. It’s part of a renewed effort by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster to stem the tide of gender-based violence.

No Evidence of ‘White Genocide’

Minister Mchunu also tackled international narratives that have emerged around “white genocide” in South Africa.

“There is no basis to these claims,” he said, addressing reports circulating globally, even in U.S. political circles.

Mchunu pointed out that six farm attacks were recorded in Q4, but the victims included both Black and White South Africans. “Crime does not choose race,” he emphasized.

Police Officers Under Threat

A somber note was struck as Mchunu confirmed the deaths of 22 police officers, with most losses occurring in Gauteng. “An attack on a police officer is an attack on the state,” he warned.

Commercial Crime Up, Hawks Step In

Fraud and commercial crime cases climbed by 4.7%, especially in Gauteng and the Western Cape. However, the Hawks secured 656 court appearances, including suspects linked to organised crime, corruption, and fraud.

Fewer Illegal Guns, Thanks to Operation Shanela

Operation Shanela continues to make a dent in illegal arms trade. Over 16,000 firearms were destroyed, while over 1,600 illegal weapons and 24,000 rounds of ammo were seized in the last quarter alone.

Stock Theft Declines, Police Recover Millions in Livestock

There was an 8.9% drop in stock theft, with recent SAPS operations recovering hundreds of cattle, sheep, and goats—valued at over R3 million—across the Eastern Cape.

New Policing Strategy to Strengthen SAPS

Mchunu highlighted the National Policing Policy, approved by Cabinet in May, which aims to enhance professionalism, use better tech tools, and refurbish police stations. The goal? A more responsive and trustworthy SAPS.

Beware Fake News and Misinformation

Mchunu also urged South Africans to be cautious when consuming news—especially on social media. “Old stories resurface and cause unnecessary panic,” he said.

South Africa’s crime stats may be a mixed bag, but the government insists it’s shifting gears to tackle emerging threats more aggressively. As the country awaits the full annual crime report in September, eyes will be on whether this momentum can be sustained—especially in the fight against gender-based violence, corruption, and organised crime.

{Source: IOL}

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