Crime statistics: These SEVEN categories show worrying increases
SAPS, led by police minister Bheki Cele, has presented the crime statistics for Q1 of the 2023/24 financial year to parliament.
The South African Police Service (SAPS), led by Police Minister Bheki Cele, presented the crime statistics for the first quarter of the 2023/24 financial year to parliament’s police portfolio committee on Friday, 18 August.
It was confirmed that 6 228 people were murdered in South Africa in the three-month period between April and June this year.
The period in question amounts to 91 days and equates to just over 68 murders per day – or nearly 3 per hour.
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The crime statistics, when compared to a similar period last year, show a marginal 3.1% improvement on the 6 424 murders reported between April and June 2022.
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According to the crime statistics, the most common weapon used in the murders, claiming most half of the lives of the reported cases was a gun with 2 756 of the victims shot. A further 862 were stabbed with knives.
The number of women killed between April and June was 895, while 293 children were also murdered during the period.
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The murder capital of the country remains in eThekwini Metro with Inanda and Umlazi Police stations recording the highest murder cases in the quarter.
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Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola revealed that most of the murders in the country occur in public places, including beaches, parking areas, abandoned buildings, recreational centres, open fields or the street.
Of the 6 228 murders reported, 3 072 occurred in a public place (49%).
Meanwhile, 1 685 murders occurred at the residence of the victim or perpetrator.
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Police minister Bheki Cele added that, worryingly, attempted murder numbers were up 7% from 5 576 in the period April-June 2022 to 5 969 during the same months in 2023.
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He also noted a shift in the days of the week when most crimes (all crimes, not just murder) are committed, from over the weekend to Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
The Q2 crime stats for the period 1 July to 30 September will be released on 17 November 2023.
Seven crime categories shows a worried year-on-year increase.
| Category | 2022 | 2023 | Change |
| Shoplifting | 11 132 | 13 234 | 18.9% |
| Commerical crime | 25 250 | 29 753 | 17.8% |
| Assault with the intent to inflict harm | 34 635 | 37 491 | 8.2% |
| Common robbery | 10 565 | 11 404 | 7.9% |
| Common assault | 38 627 | 41 519 | 7.5% |
| Attempted murder | 5 576 | 5 969 | 7% |
| Robbery at residential premises | 5 370 | 5 631 | 4.9% |