Q2 Crime Stats Show Murders Increased by 20.7% & Rape by 7.1%

Police Minister Bheki Cele says the second quarter crime statistics are “as alarming as the previous quarter’s figures”.

Cele and SAPS management briefed Parliament’s police committee on Friday about the latest numbers which cover the July unrest that ravaged KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

The statistics show that all contact crimes like murder, rape and attempted murder have increased.

Cele says aid police recorded 1,056 more murders compared to the same period last year.

“In the three months of reporting, a 20.7% increase in murder. When compared with the same period in 2019, the percentage change would have been 13.2% increase”.

KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape have recorded the most murders nationally.

Cele says the unrest and violence in July added to the increase in the statistics.

“This is evidenced by KZN recording 44.4% increase in its murder cases in the period. The July unrests contributed to the murder figures, but we must concede that other provinces such as Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape and the North West recorded double digit increases in murder cases during this reporting period.”

Cele says more than 9 500 rape cases were also opened between July and September 2021, which is an increase of 634 cases amounting to a 7,1% increase compared to the previous reporting period.

“A sample of 6 144 rape cases revealed that 3 951 of the rape incidents took place at the home of the victim or the home of the rapist. Liquor and drugs were involved in 1 383 of the rape cases. 400 rape cases were domestic violence related, meaning the victim and perpetrator have a relationship.”

Cele said the SAPS crime data is demonstrating that South Africa is a very violent country with 72 762 cases of common assault and assault GBH also opened with the police in the three months of reporting.