Western Cape ranks as South Africa's most violent province once again

SAPS has announced the second-quarter crime statistics for 2025, revealing that Cape Town and eThekwini recorded the highest levels of contact crime between July and September. 

Four of the top five stations for contact crime in the country are situated in Cape Town.

The statistics were presented on Friday by acting Police Minister Prof Firoz Cachalila, alongside Deputy Minister Polly Boshiel and Deputy National Commissioner for Policing Lt-Gen Tebello Misikili, as well as other senior police officials.

Registrar Major General Thulare Sekhukhune delivered the detailed presentation.

Major Decline in Murders

Sekhukhune opened with the murder statistics, noting a significant drop.

“In the current quarter two, we have recorded 751 fewer murders compared to the previous period. Previously, we had 6,545. Currently, we are at 5,794, and the percentage reduction is 11.5,” he said.

Sexual Offences and Attempted Murder

Sexual offences increased slightly by two cases, rising from 12,765 to 12,787 - a 0.2% increase. 

He said attempted murder rose by 194 cases.

“Attempted murder, we have also recorded an increase of 194 counts more,” Sekhukhune said.

Assault GBH decreased by 743 cases, while common assault increased by 331. Common robbery dropped by 363 cases.

Robbery with aggravating circumstances fell by 3,689 cases, contributing to a total reduction of 4,999 contact crimes.

Breakdown of Sexual Offences

Sexual offences consist of rape, sexual assault, attempted sexual offences and contact sexual offences.

“For the four crimes that make up the total sexual offences, we have recorded decreases in terms of rape - 37 counts less - and sexual assault - 12 counts less,” Sekhukhune said.

“We then recorded increases in terms of attempted sexual offences, 50 counts more, and contact sexual offences, 21 counts more.”

Trio Crimes: All Down

The “trio crimes” - carjacking, robbery at residential premises and robbery at non-residential premises - all recorded decreases, which SAPS emphasised as significant.

“For carjacking, we had a reduction of 669. Robbery at residential premises, a reduction of 864. Robbery at non-residential premises, a decrease of 829,” Sekhukhune said.

Cash-in-transit robberies dropped by 16, truck hijackings by 39 and bank robberies remained at zero.

Declines in Property-Related and Other Serious Crimes

Property crimes showed consistent decreases across all categories, totalling 8,455 fewer cases. Other serious crimes also fell by 4,209, although commercial crime increased by 948.

Crimes detected as a result of police action increased, a trend SAPS said reflects improved policing, with drug-related offences rising by 9,214 and driving under the influence by 4,391.

Provincial Performance

Only the Western Cape and Northern Cape recorded increases in contact crimes, with rises of 183 and 146 cases respectively.

Gauteng contributed the highest share of national contact crime, 26.4%, followed by the Western Cape, 18%, KwaZulu-Natal, 17.4% and the Eastern Cape, 10.6%.

Top Contact Crime Stations

The top five stations for contact crime came from only two provinces. 

These include Mfuleni (Western Cape), Nyanga (Western Cape), Delft (Western Cape),  Inanda (KwaZulu-Natal) and Kraaifontein (Western Cape)

“Mfuleni is number one, both at the national and provincial level,” Sekhukhune said.

Murder Trends

All three months of the quarter - July, August and September  recorded decreases in murder. Only the Western Cape (up 97) and Northern Cape (up 1) showed increases.

On a per capita basis, both the Eastern Cape and Western Cape recorded about 15 murders per 100,000 people. 

He said KwaZulu-Natal recorded 10 per 100,000, while Limpopo had the lowest rate.

The top five murder stations were Mfuleni (Western Cape), Kraaifontein (Western Cape), Delft (Western Cape), GP (Gauteng), and Gugulethu (Western Cape).

Causes and Locations of Murders

He said from a sample of 5,270 murder cases, the police identified key contributing factors.

“We observed that 956 of the murders were attributable to arguments, misunderstanding, road rage and provocation,” Sekhukhune said.

“328 happened during a robbery, and 315 were gang-related - with the bulk occurring in the Western Cape.”

In the same sample, most murders occurred in public places, 2,790, followed by perpetrators’ residences, 1,659. 

Others took place at liquor outlets, 196, business premises, 83, spaza shops, 80, and educational institutions, 12.

Sekhukhune also highlighted the toll on law enforcement.

“Twenty-seven security guards and 23 police officers were killed - that easily comes to 50 personnel killed within a period of three months.

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