Crime Statistics: Here are the most dangerous places in South Africa

Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, and South African Police Services (SAPS) dished out the 2018/2019 annual crime statistics; with the data proving a horrific increase in murder, rape, assault and other contact crimes.

Contact crimes increased by 1,6% compared to the previous financial year

The contact crimes category contains data recorded for sexual assault, attempted murder, common assault, robbery, and assault with grievous bodily harm. There are 617 210 cases recorded in the past year and top ten stations with recorded cases of these crimes are:

1. Johannesburg Central: Gauteng
2. Hillbrow: Gauteng
3. Mitchells Plain: Western Cape
4. Nyanga: Western Cape
5. Khayelitsha: Western Cape
6. Delft: Western Cape
7. Dobsonville: Gauteng
8. Umlazi: Kwa-Zulu Natal
9. Ivory Park: Gauteng
10. Temba: Gauteng

Where you’re most likely to be assaulted:

Gauteng Province seems to be leading the pack, with five of its police stations listed, and Johannesburg Central recorded with a whopping 5 414 of reported contact crime cases.

The Western Cape follows closely behind with four of its police stations ranked in the top ten for these reported contact crimes; Mitchells Plain sits in the third spot of this top ten, with 4 302 recorded cases of contact crimes.

Kwa-Zulu Natal features on this list positioned in the eighth spot as Umlazi has 3 286 recorded cases of contact crimes. These top three provinces contribute heavily to the 617 210 cases recorded for 2018/2019.

Crime Statistics: Nyanga station remains prominent for recorded murder cases

The precinct with scary statistics recorded for murder in South Africa remains Nyanga, as data also proves the township has been the county’s murder capital since 2014, with more than 270 reported cases of murder each year.

Western Cape remains prominent for murder as four stations from the province are recorded in the top five rankings of this category; more victims of murder were killed with guns and knives than any other weapon.

Crime Statistics: Attempted murder cases have increased by 4,1%

In the past year, there has been a total of 20 575 murders, with most occurring on a Sunday, around midnight and 3:00. It is predicted to be a lapse from Saturday night, as 4 881 murders were recorded for Saturday from 21:00 to 23:59, and 5 159 for Sunday, during the breaking of a new day.

Reported cases of attempted murder have increased by 4,1%, while 13 360 of these reported cases include guns as the chosen weapons, and 3 700 of these cases are reported to have taken place in Gauteng

Recorded cases of assault with grievous bodily harm stem from arguments

There are 170 979 recorded cases of assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, with the 96 833 incidents reported, hands were used as opposed to weapons. This type of assault is recorded to be prominent in Kwa-Zulu Natal, with 1 024 recorded cases in the past year.

Across all the provinces, data proves 27 813 of these assault cases stem from arguments and misunderstandings, including 19 687 reported cases that contribute to the domestic violence epidemic.

Crime Statistics: Johannesburg Central remains famous for robbery

Common robbery has increased by 2% in the past year, and 17 757 cases have been recorded in Gauteng. The province is crawling with these incidents, as Johannesburg Central, Pretoria central business district and Hillbrow contribute to the top five rankings of this category.

Where robberies are most likely to take place:

• Johannesburg Central: Gauteng
• Cape Town Central: Western Cape
• Pretoria Central: Gauteng
• Hillbrow: Gauteng
• Durban Central: Kwa-Zulu Natal
• Sunnyside: Gauteng
• Mitchells Plain: Western Cape
• Park Road: Free State
• Kimberley: Northern Cape
• Parow: Western Cape