
06 Jun South Africa’s Q4 2024/2025 Crime Stats Released
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has released the crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year, covering the period from January to March 2025. The data, now available in detailed report format at www.crimestatssa.com, provides insights into national crime trends, highlighting both progress and areas requiring urgent attention.
Decline in Major Violent Crimes
The latest statistics reveal a significant decrease in several major violent crime categories compared to the same period in the previous year:
- Murder: Decreased by 12.4%, with 5,727 cases reported, averaging 64 murders per day.
- Aggravated Robbery: Dropped by 10.4% to 31,749 incidents.
- Attempted Murder: Reduced by 5.8% to 6,985 cases.
- Serious Assaults: Fell by 5.3% to 43,776 incidents.
Areas of Concern
Despite the positive trends, certain crime categories have seen increases:
- Sexual Offences: While overall levels remained largely unchanged at 13,452 cases, rape incidents increased by 36 cases.
- Commercial Crime: Rose by 4.7%, with 1,581 additional cases, totaling 35,000 incidents. Gauteng and the Western Cape reported the highest numbers.
- Kidnappings: Increased by 6.8% to 4,571 cases, indicating a growing concern for law enforcement agencies.
Police Officer Fatalities
Tragically, 22 police officers lost their lives during this quarter—six while on duty and 16 off duty. Gauteng accounted for 10 of these fatalities. The government emphasizes that attacks on law enforcement personnel are attacks on the state, warranting decisive action.
Provincial Highlights
All provinces, except the Northern Cape, reported decreases in murder incidents. The four provinces with the highest crime rates—Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape—continue to contribute significantly to national crime statistics.
Accessing Detailed Reports
For comprehensive insights into crime trends across various provinces and police precincts, the full report is available at www.crimestatssa.com. The platform offers detailed charts, heat maps, and precinct-level data, enabling stakeholders to analyze and address crime effectively.