South Africa’s latest crime stats: Murder on the rise, shows ten-year trend

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.

This is a developing story – more details to follow