Police Minister Senzo Mchunu released the latest quarterly crime statistics for October to December 2024, revealing trends in violent crime, sexual offences, and high-risk areas across South Africa.
Unpacking the latest South Africa crime statistics
The data presents a mixed picture, with murder and robbery showing a decline, while assault and certain sexual offences have increased.
The report indicates that contact crimes, which include murder, assault, and robbery, decreased by 1.6% compared to the same period in 2023.
This reduction is largely due to a significant drop in murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances, which suggests improved law enforcement strategies or shifting crime patterns.
Murder cases decreased by 9.8%, dropping from 7,710 in Q3 of 2023 to 6,953 in Q3 of 2024. This decline is one of the most positive indicators in the report, suggesting that efforts to curb violent crime, particularly gang-related killings and domestic violence murders, may be yielding results.
Similarly, attempted murder cases saw a 3.3% decline, with 261 fewer cases reported. This follows a trend observed in previous quarters, showing a gradual decrease in attempts to commit deadly attacks.
However, not all violent crimes followed this downward trajectory.
Reports of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm increased by 1.5%, with 824 additional cases recorded compared to the previous period.
Common assault, which often involves domestic disputes, bar fights, or altercations between acquaintances, rose by 6.6%, with 3,521 additional cases reported. This suggests that while extreme acts of violence like murder may be declining, interpersonal conflict remains a major concern.
Robbery with aggravating circumstances showed one of the most significant declines, dropping by 13.1%, amounting to 5,301 fewer cases. This reduction may indicate improvements in policing, increased security measures in businesses and residential areas, or shifts in criminal activity away from direct confrontations.
Common robbery, which involves the use of force or intimidation but without a weapon, also decreased by 6%, with 796 fewer cases reported.
Sexual Offences: A declining but persistent crisis
The statistics show that sexual offences decreased by 2%, with 311 fewer cases recorded during the reporting period.While this decline is notable, it does not necessarily indicate an improvement in safety, as underreporting remains a major issue in sexual violence cases.
Rape cases dropped by 3.3%, with 408 fewer incidents recorded nationwide. Despite this decline, rape remains one of the most prevalent violent crimes in South Africa, with thousands of cases still being reported each quarter.
While rape cases declined, sexual assault increased by 3.5%, adding 74 more cases compared to the previous quarter. Additionally, contact sexual offences saw a dramatic increase of 25.8%, though the total number of cases remains relatively low compared to other sexual crimes.
Attempted sexual offences, which include cases where the act was prevented or interrupted, decreased by 3.2%.
The increase in sexual assault and contact sexual offences is a disturbing outcome from the observed quarter’s statistics that exposes the ongoing vulnerabilities of women and children, particularly in environments where they are at risk of exploitation, coercion, or domestic violence.
The most dangerous cities in South Africa in 2025
The crime statistics also showed which provinces and cities recorded the highest numbers of violent crimes in the latest reporting period.
Gauteng continues to lead the country in total recorded contact crimes, with 48,929 cases. This is due in part to its dense population and high urban crime rates.
KwaZulu-Natal follows closely with 33,015 cases, with many of its crime hotspots concentrated in areas like Durban, Inanda, and Umlazi.
The Western Cape recorded 32,169 cases, driven by crime in Cape Town Central, Mitchells Plain, and Mfuleni, where gang violence, extortion, and drug-related crime remain key concerns.
While Gauteng recorded the highest number of murders at 1,741 cases, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape also reported alarmingly high murder rates, with 1,493 and 1,300 cases respectively.
The Northern Cape recorded the lowest murder rate, with just 109 cases reported in the period.
Attempted murder cases also followed a similar trend, with Gauteng (1,820 cases), KwaZulu-Natal (1,915 cases), and Western Cape (1,150 cases) recording the highest numbers.
Reports of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm were highest in Gauteng (11,313 cases), KwaZulu-Natal (9,684 cases), and the Western Cape (6,852 cases), further underscoring how interpersonal violence remains widespread across urban and peri-urban areas.
Certain police stations recorded particularly high crime levels, making them some of the most dangerous areas in the country.
Top 5 police stations with the highest reported crimes:
- Cape Town Central (Western Cape) – 3,207 cases (a 14.9% decrease from Q3 2023).
- Durban Central (KwaZulu-Natal) – 2,185 cases (13% decrease).
- Mitchells Plain (Western Cape) – 1,948 cases (10.3% decrease).
- Chatsworth (KwaZulu-Natal) – 1,926 cases (8.9% increase).
- Mfuleni (Western Cape) – 1,892 cases (7.2% decrease).
While many of these areas saw reductions in overall crime rates, Chatsworth in KwaZulu-Natal experienced an 8.9% increase, reinforcing concerns about escalating violence in some communities.
Additionally, Inanda (KZN) saw an 11.1% rise in reported crimes, confirming its status as one of South Africa’s most dangerous townships.
Meanwhile, Midrand (Gauteng) recorded an 18.3% drop in crime, the highest reduction among major urban centers.
South Africa’s crime landscape remains volatile, and law enforcement strategies will need to be continuously refinedto tackle emerging threats and ensure sustainable crime reduction.
