By: Natasha Archary
Almost 7 000 people were murdered in South Africa between July and September 2023, a decrease of just 0.8%.
Although the number is slightly lower than the same period from the previous year, the latest crime statistics painted a bleak picture for contact crimes in the country.
This includes contact crimes, sexual assault, hijackings and robberies at residential and non-residential premises.
Police Minister Bheki Cele delivered the second quarter crime stats for the 2023/24 financial year on Friday, 17 November, expressing concern over the number of violent murders, at 6 945, just 59 lower than last year.
“Indeed, we think we are heading in some direction. That is not to say crime is at acceptable levels and to say that South Africans don’t feel fear and feel irritated.
There are several breakthroughs, we had a breakthrough on child pornography, just this week, where people were arrested.
While cash-in-transit heists are there, we are getting some sort of hold on it.”
Police Miniser Bheki Cele
Over the 90-period mentioned above, 13 090 people were sexually assaulted, and there were 42 297 serious assault cases reported.
While the marginally low decline in murders was highlighted, rape remains a concern and is a crime that continues to rise, with 10 516 rapes recorded over this period.
Gauteng recorded a decrease in rape cases with 167 less counts compared to the last year, while KwaZulu-Natal is the highest contributor in rape cases at 20.2%.
Just a few days ago, a 33-year old man from Hazelmere, KwaZulu-Natal was arrested for allegedly killing his frail mother and concealing her death.
The 72-year old woman had reportedly gone to visit her son, and after an altercation he allegedly pushed her resulting in her death.
According to reports from the Reaction Unit of South Africa, the man failed to disclose his mother’s death, and left her decomposing body in the same room that he stayed in for 3 nights.
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