The number of murder cases in South Africa continues to cause alarm, with 7 555 people (10.1%) killed in the country between October and December 2022.
Quarterly crime statistics
Police Minister Bheki Cele and the management of the South African Police Service (Saps) on Friday released monthly crime statistics, covering the period between October 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022.
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According to these figures, the police recorded an increase of 696 murders during the reporting period. Compared to the same quarter in 2021, 6 859 people were killed in SA.
Police stations in the Western Cape, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape recorded the most murders in the country.
gun violence
Of the 7 555 people killed in the three reporting months, Cele said 3 144 people were killed by firearms, highlighting the country’s challenges with gun violence.
2 498 people were killed with other weapons such as knives, sharp and blunt instruments, bricks – and in many cases – bare hands.
Despite concerns about the shadowy figures, Cele said it was clear that South Africans needed to talk about what was at the heart of violent crime in the country.
“While gun violence is a problem and poses a serious threat to lives and livelihoods, with current and previous statistical analysis, it is quite clear that firearms are only part of a larger problem,” he said.
Causing violence
The minister added that the essence of the matter is human behavior and the socio-economic challenges of the country.
“We need to be honest as South Africans about the causes of violence and address them.
“High levels of unemployment and poverty, informal settlements with no services and other socioeconomic ills lead to criminality, coupled with the large number of undocumented foreign nationals who are difficult to trace after a crime,” he said. Cele.
Here are the top 10 police stations reporting the most homicides:
- Mfuleni, Western Cape (89 cases)
- Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal (87 cases)
- Delft, Western Cape (86 cases)
- Plessislaer, KwaZulu-Natal (74 cases)
- Horn, Western Cape (68 cases)
- New Brighton, Eastern Cape (64 cases)
- Kraaifontein, Western Cape (60 cases)
- Harare, Western Cape (58 cases)
- KwaMashu E, KwaZulu-Natal (56 cases)
- Mthatha, Eastern Cape (55 cases)
NOW Read: Cele posts alarming crime statistics in South Africa