Police to brief public as KwaZulu‑Natal records highest provincial sexual‑offence figures

The South African Police Service (SAPS) will publish KwaZulu‑Natal’s crime statistics for the first quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year and update the public on the state of policing in the province.

Who will brief the public and what period the data covers

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the figures will be released on Friday. The Acting Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu‑Natal, Major General Phumelele Makoba, is expected to discuss crimes reported between April and June 2026.

Provincial picture within national data

National quarterly crime statistics show several provinces carrying the heaviest burden of serious violent crimes. Gauteng, KwaZulu‑Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape were highlighted in the national data.

The national figures showed Gauteng recorded the highest number of murders and carjackings, while KwaZulu‑Natal reported the most rape cases out of all provinces.

Contact‑crime hotspots

Police stations in KwaZulu‑Natal named among South Africa’s 30 police stations with the highest reported contact‑crime totals for the quarter include Inanda, Ntuzuma, Chatsworth, Verulam and Phoenix. The category of contact crimes includes murder, attempted murder, sexual offences and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Key numbers from the national report

Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia said there were 5,427 murder cases nationally, of which 1,179 were in KwaZulu‑Natal. He said:

“Across South Africa, there were also 6,958 attempted murder cases, 38,589 cases of assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, and 26,839 cases of robbery with aggravating circumstances reported.”

The national report recorded 3,811 carjackings, with 481 in KwaZulu‑Natal. For robbery, the province logged 1,088 cases at residential premises and 471 at non‑residential premises in the quarter.

Sexual offences in KwaZulu‑Natal

Nationally, 11,532 sexual offences were reported between April and June 2026. KwaZulu‑Natal accounted for 2,291 of those reports, the highest provincial total. Within the province, the quarter included 124 murders of women, 233 attempted murders of women and 955 reported rapes.

What to expect from the briefing

The SAPS briefing led by Major General Makoba will present the KwaZulu‑Natal figures for the quarter and provide an update on the state of policing in the province, according to the police spokesperson.