Limpopo Crime Drops 11.2% but Murders Rise: Province Remains Safest in SA Despite Ticking Upward

Limpopo has recorded an overall decline in crime across most major categories in the third quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year, maintaining its position as one of the country’s safest provincesdespite a rise in murder cases.

The provincial statistics, covering October to December 2025, were released on Monday by Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe and MEC for Transport and Community Safety Violet Mathye in Polokwane .

The Big Picture

According to the figures, the 17 priority crime categories recorded an 11.2% reduction compared to the same period in the previous financial year. Key declines included:

• Contact crimes: down 11.7%

• Trio crimes (carjacking, robbery at residential and business premises): down 24.4%

• Contact-related crimes: down 5.6%

• Property-related crimes: down 15.2%

• Other serious crimes: down 8.6%

The Murder Anomaly

The one dark spot in an otherwise positive report was murder. While Limpopo remains the province with the lowest murder rate in South Africa, cases increased by 5.9% during the quarter .

This aligns with national trends: while the country recorded an 8.7% drop in murders overall, Limpopo and the Northern Cape were the only provinces to see increases . The rise, though modest, is a concern for a province that prides itself on relative safety.

Operational Successes

Police in Limpopo were active during the quarter, with significant enforcement results:

• Firearms: 180 arrests for illegal possession; 243 firearms and substantial ammunition recovered

• Drugs: 2,654 arrests, a 3.4% increase

• Drunk driving: 1,665 arrests, a sharp 40.4% increase

• Violent crimes: 178 murder suspects, 91 attempted murder suspects, and 288 rape suspects arrested

• Illegal mining: 2,471 operations conducted

• Unlicensed liquor: 1,858 shebeens closed

• Vehicle crime: 103 hijacked or stolen vehicles recovered

• Immigration enforcement: 4,285 undocumented foreign nationals arrested

Provincial Response

MEC Violet Mathye expressed satisfaction with the overall decline but stressed that the rise in murder and other violent crimes requires sustained attention. She commended the police for their operational successes, particularly in drug enforcement and drunk-driving arrests, which saw significant increases .

Lt Gen Hadebe emphasised that the province’s policing approachcombining high-visibility operations, intelligence-driven interventions, and community engagementwas yielding results. She specifically praised the work of detectives and crime prevention units in securing arrests for serious crimes .

The Context

Limpopo’s crime picture is complex. While the province remains relatively safe compared to Gauteng or the Western Cape, the increase in murderhowever smallis a reminder that no province is immune to the violence that plagues parts of South Africa. The surge in drunk-driving arrests reflects both increased enforcement and, worryingly, a persistent problem of alcohol-related offences.

The decline in trio crimesa category that causes significant public fearis particularly welcome. It suggests that targeted interventions against armed robbery and carjacking are having an impact.

Looking Ahead

The statistics provide a baseline for the province as it heads into the final quarter of the financial year. With elections approaching, crime will remain a central issue for voters. For Limpopo’s police leadership, the challenge is to build on the declines while tackling the stubborn rise in murderand to ensure that the province’s status as one of South Africa’s safest is not just maintained, but strengthened.

{Source: IOL}

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