Mapaballo Borotho

Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, has revealed that the province contributed 26.2% to South Africa’s overall crime statistics.
Mthombeni delivered the fourth quarter crime statistics for the 2024/25 financial year in Johannesburg on Thursday, 5 June.
The release of provincial crime statistics comes as the nation grapples with the tragic deaths of journalism student Olorato Mongale—brutally murdered while on a date—14-year-old learner Likhona Fose, and two-year-old Kutlwano Shalaba, who was allegedly killed by her biological mother.
Despite these heartbreaking incidents, Mthombeni reported a notable decline in contact crimes—offences committed against individuals—which dropped by 8.5%. Within this category, the murder rate saw a reduction of 10.8%.
According to Mthombeni, the leading causes of murder in the province include arguments, misunderstandings, road rage incidents, and robbery.
“Murders in this province are mainly committed at a public place and then at the residence of the victim or perpetrator.
“Gauteng has a challenge of multiple murders. These multiple murders have contributed 75 dockets with 191 victims to the province’s murder rate. For the highest number of people killed, we had two incidents where seven victims were murdered on the same crime scene,” he added.
Mthombeni: Gauteng has made progress in the fight against crime by recording a 7.9% (8 393 counts) decrease in the 17 community reported serious Crimes
— Kaya News (@KayaNews) June 5, 2025
Gauteng still contributed 26.2% to the national overall crime. KH #KayaNews #crimestats
Sexual offences also decreased by 2.1%.
“For the period under review, we have arrested 1112 sexual offenders, presented 1356 cases in court, and secured convictions for 102 offenders, resulting in 28 life terms and an additional 900 years’ imprisonment”.
Mthombeni acknowledged that there’s still much work that needs to be done to tackle crime in Gauteng.
READ NEXT: Ramaphosa pays tribute to late photographer and jazz promoter Rashid Lombard



