Crime statistics released on Friday reveal that South Africa experienced a staggering 12 734 murders in the first half of 2024, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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The figures, presented by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, cover the last quarter of the previous financial year (January to March) and the first quarter of the current financial year (April to June).
The quarterly report, delayed due to the national elections at the end of May, shows that 6 536 murders occurred from January to March this year, marking an almost 4% increase from the same period last year. In the subsequent three months, from April to June, there were 6 198 recorded murders.
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Additionally, sexual offenses showed a mixed trend. Between January and March, the police recorded 13 446 sexual offenses, reflecting a nearly 2% increase. However, during the April to June period, there was a slight decrease to 11 566 offenses. Overall, contact crimes—including murder, attempted murder, and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm—increased by 4.6% in the first quarter, and by 2.6% in the second.
The statistics highlight that six of the top ten police stations for murder between January and March are located in the Western Cape. Gauteng accounted for a quarter of the murders in the first three months of the year, with KwaZulu-Natal at 22% and the Western Cape at 17%. These provinces remained the most affected in the following quarter, with the Western Cape experiencing the highest rise in murders—27.5% from January to March and 21% from April to June.
In total, the Western Cape recorded 2 250 murders, KwaZulu-Natal 2 914, and Gauteng 2 994 over the six-month period. Additionally, there have been 39 murders of police officers this year, with 10 occurring while officers were on duty.
Mchunu commented on the report, saying, ‘Crime is generally on the increase. Crimes that should worry us most are murder, rape, hijacking, kidnapping for ransom payments and extortion.’
He described the statistics as a ‘sobering story’ and a ‘stark reminder of the urgent need for action.’
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