JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 24: The crime scene where Thabo Motsei, a taxi driver was murdered near Naturena on April 24, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Motsei, 23, who had only been in the job for less than a week, was killed in alleged ongoing taxi feud in Freedom Park. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Mduduzi Ndzingi)
South Africa’s latest crime stats: Murder on the rise, shows ten-year trend
At an average of 58 murders a day, South Africa is close to becoming the ‘murder capital’ of the world.
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 24: The crime scene where Thabo Motsei, a taxi driver was murdered near Naturena on April 24, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Motsei, 23, who had only been in the job for less than a week, was killed in alleged ongoing taxi feud in Freedom Park. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Mduduzi Ndzingi)
The latest report on South Africa’s crime statistics has revealed an increase in the country’s already-high murder rate.
The annual report, issued by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Friday morning, examined ten-year trends associated with a host of various crimes. While a total of 15 893 murders were recorded in 2010, that number soared to 21 325 in the 2019/2020 financial year. A spike in killings compared to data gathered in 2018/2019 reveals a 1.4% increase, making the most recent year the deadliest on record.
The latest report also shows that, on average, 58 people are killed in South Africa on a daily basis, placing the country only second to El Salvador as ‘murder capital’ of the world according to a recent study conducted by the United Nations.
Murder in South Africa – the provincial statistics
South Africa’s latest crime statistics reveal that while some provinces have recorded a decrease in murders, killings in densely-populated regions have soared.
Gauteng:
- Murders in 2018/2019: 4 495
- Murders in 2019/2020: 4 555
- Increase of 1.3%
KwaZulu-Natal:
- Murders in 2018/2019: 4 395
- Murders in 2019/2020: 4 895
- Increase of 10.6%
Mpumalanga:
- Murders in 2018/2019: 996
- Murders in 2019/2020: 1 046
- Increase of 5%
Northern Cape:
- Murders in 2018/2019: 322
- Murders in 2019/2020: 326
- Increase of 1.2%
Western Cape:
- Murders in 2018/2019: 3 974
- Murders in 2019/2020: 3 975
Murders in the North West province dropped dramatically by 10.1%. The Eastern Cape, Free State and Limpopo also noted a decline in killings compared to the 2018/2019 year.
Drop in ‘serious crimes’
While South Africa’s murder rate continues to creep towards new ghastly heights, SAPS reported a meagre decrease in other ‘serious crimes’. Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole noted a 2.7% drop, calculated over 10 years, in commercial crimes and thefts.
Latest crime stats: Increases
The following crimes have increased from the 2018/2019 year:
- Murder: +1.4%
- Sexual offences: +1.7%
- Common assault: +2.1%
- Common robbery: +0.1%
- Robbery with aggravating circumstances: +2.8%
- Rape: +1.7%
- Sexual Assault: +4.2%
- Carjacking: +13.3%
- Robbery at non-residential premises: +3.3%
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: +13.7%
Latest crime stats: Decreases
The following crimes have decreased from the 2018/2019 year:
- Attempted murder: -1.8%
- Assault with the intent to inflect grievous bodily harm: -2.5%
- Attempted sexual offences: -3.3%
- Contact sexual offences: -6%
- Robbery at residential premises: -5.8%
- Robbery of cash in transit: -10.4%
- Arson: -7.3%
- Malicious damage to property: -4.1%
- Burglary at non-residential premises: -2.1%
- Burglary at residential premises: -6.7%
- Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle: -2.9%
- Theft out of or from motor vehicle: -5.5%
- Stock theft: -4.2%
