WHILE Gauteng saw decreases in several major crime categories this quarter, including murders and contact crimes, certain serious offences such as attempted murder and cash-in-transit heists remain on the rise.
Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia briefed the media on Friday on the release of the third-quarter crime statistics, covering the period from October 1 to December 31.
The country’s murder figures fell by 8.7%, while overall violent crime declined by 6.7% during the same period. Of the 30 precincts with the highest murder rates, only 15 recorded.
“Most violent crime categories, including murder, rape and robbery, as well as most property-related crimes such as theft and burglary, continued to decrease, but remain at unacceptably high levels,” he said.
Gauteng, the country’s economic hub, also recorded increases in arson, commercial crime, shoplifting, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and sexual offences detected through police action.
Some of the major crime categories in Gauteng showed decreases in the latest quarter. Contact crimes fell by 6.7%, murders declined by 8.7%, sexual offences dropped by 2.8%, common robbery decreased by 7.0%, and property-related crimes also recorded a decline.
However, other serious offences in the province saw notable increases. Attempted murder rose by 2.5%, with 1, 939 counts recorded. Robberies of cash-in-transit vehicles increased by eight incidents, reaching 13 counts, while commercial crimes grew by 2.0%, totaling 13 181 reported incidents.
Crime activist Yusuf Abramjee told the Saturday Star that, despite slight improvements in certain crime categories, the overall crime situation in continues to be a serious concern.
“What stands out most in the latest crime statistics is the stubborn persistence of violent crime, particularly murder, attempted murder, and aggravated robbery.”
“While there may be marginal improvements in some categories, the overall picture remains deeply concerning. For many communities, especially in gang-affected and economically marginalised areas, crime is not declining in any meaningful way. These figures reinforce what residents experience daily: that violence has become normalised and criminals continue to operate with a high degree of impunity,” he said.
Abramjee warned that while government plans to strengthen Anti-Gang Units, deploy specialised police units, and utilise the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in high-risk areas may provide temporary stabilisation, these measures alone will not deliver lasting change.
“We have seen repeatedly that deployments are often temporary, unevenly implemented, and not backed by consistent intelligence-led operations and successful prosecutions,” he said.
“Without sustained investigations, arrests, and convictions, especially of gang leaders and organised crime figures, the impact will be limited. South Africa needs deeper structural interventions. This includes rebuilding detective capacity, properly resourcing forensic services, fixing case management systems, and professionalising police leadership. Corruption within law enforcement must be aggressively rooted out,” Abramjee added.
He stressed the importance of prevention alongside enforcement. “Government must invest seriously in early childhood development, quality schooling, youth programmes, substance-abuse treatment, and economic opportunities in high-crime communities. Visible policing matters, but effective policing matters more. Communities must also be treated as partners, not spectators, in the fight against crime.”Makashule Gana, RISE Mzansi National Assembly Whip and member of the Police Committee, said the statistics reflected persistent fear and institutional weakness. “While the Executive seeks to frame these figures as progress, the reality for South Africans remains one of ongoing fear and institutional abandonment. Winning the war on violent crime requires the involvement of all, not just the police. Trust will only be restored when suspects are arrested, cases are thoroughly investigated, and prosecutable dockets are handed to the National Prosecuting Authority,” he said.
Between October and December 2025, South Africa recorded 5 940 murders. Most distressing were the 243 dockets opened for multiple murders, claiming 558 victims, including a horrific tavern shooting in Atteridgeville, Gauteng, which killed 12 people.
“These are not merely statistics; they represent victims of a police service that has been criminally infiltrated and is at war with itself,” Gana said, highlighting the profound challenges facing law enforcement as it contends with organised crime, gang violence, and high levels of attempted murder in Gauteng and beyond.
Organised crime has also been identified as a major threat to democracy, with Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia noting that much of it is not captured in official statistics, leaving the national crime picture incomplete.
“Despite these welcome national trends, the levels of crime remain unacceptably high. The crime situation varies substantially across the country. While most communities have recorded a decrease in violent and property crimes, there are still too many communities that have recorded increases. This does not necessarily translate into a felt sense of security by individuals, families, and communities,” Cachalia said.
Saturday Star
Anita Nkonki
iol.co.za
