South Africa’s latest crime statistics show a clear drop in the murder rate, yet the country still records an average of 63 killings every day.
Police leaders say the numbers point to progress, but warn that violence remains deeply entrenched.
Acting police minister Firoz Cachalia released the long-delayed crime statistics for April to June 2025 and July to September 2025.
Murder Rate Drops in Both Reporting Periods
Major General Thulare Sekhukhune told reporters in Pretoria that murders between April and June fell by 6.9 percent.
Between July and September, the decline was even sharper at 11.5 percent.
He said police recorded 751 fewer murders in the second quarter. The number dropped from 6 545 in the previous period to 5 794.
Despite the national improvement, murder figures rose sharply in parts of the Western Cape, particularly in Mfuleni, Delft, Gugulethu and Kraaifontein.
Sekhukhune said arguments, misunderstandings, road rage and provocation accounted for the largest share of killings across the country.
Mixed Trends in Violent and Contact Crime
Attempted murder decreased during the period, but some subcategories of violent crime rose.
Sekhukhune said police recorded 194 more attempted murders, increasing the number from 7 061 to 7 255, a 2.7 percent rise.
Assault GBH fell by 753 cases.
Common assault increased by 381.
Common robbery dropped by 363.
Robbery with aggravating circumstances fell by 3 689 cases.
Overall, contact crimes declined by 4 999 cases compared to the previous period.
Between July and September, stations in Cape Town and eThekwini recorded the highest number of contact crimes, with four Cape Town stations ranking among the national top five.
Sexual Offences Continue to Rise
While overall contact crime decreased by 3.1 percent year-on-year, reports of sexual offences continued to grow.
Police recorded a slight rise in sexual offences, up from 12 765 to 12 787, an increase of 22 cases.
Thohoyandou Police Station in Limpopo recorded the highest number of rape cases, with stations in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape also among the top five.
Police Ramp Up Festive Season Operations as murder rate falls
Deputy National Commissioner Tebello Mosikili said police have intensified operations for the festive season to ensure communities feel safer.
She said Operation Shanela, the weekly integrated police deployment, is making a visible difference even though the country “is not yet where it wants to be”.
