Overview
- The police released fourth‑quarter crime figures on Friday showing murders fell 9.5% year‑on‑year to 5,181 in January–March 2026.
- Despite the decline, South Africa averaged about 58 murders per day in the quarter, so overall levels of violent crime remain very high.
- More than 80% of murders occurred in Gauteng, KwaZulu‑Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape, with the Eastern Cape recording the highest murder risk at 14.3 per 100,000 people.
- Police recorded 9,782 rapes in the quarter with roughly 47% taking place in victims’ or perpetrators’ homes, and 7,267 cases of murder, rape, attempted murder and serious assault were linked to alcohol.
- Acting Minister Firoz Cachalia has launched a 'police reset' to boost intelligence and investigations and asked the Civilian Secretariat for Police to review liquor trading rules, while MPs urged longer‑term action on unemployment and social drivers of crime.