Overview
- Police recorded 5,940 murders in October–December 2025, which is 602 fewer year on year during the festive season quarter.
- Double‑digit murder declines were logged in KwaZulu‑Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and North West, with smaller decreases in the Western and Eastern Cape and slight increases in Limpopo and the Northern Cape.
- Gang‑related killings in parts of the Western and Eastern Cape remain high, and 23 police officers were killed in the quarter with nearly 80% off duty.
- Measures announced include a national community patroller programme, the allocation of 999 additional detectives to SAPS, and intensified action on illegal firearms with 13,859 confiscated weapons destroyed on Thursday.
- To tackle organised crime and integrity risks, authorities are deploying SANDF support in select provinces under SAPS command and have set up a task team with vetting and lifestyle audits for senior officials.