Thokozile Mnguni
A notable decline in murders and other serious crimes was recorded in the first three months of 2026, with police data showing fewer incidents across several major categories.
Releasing the latest crime statistics today, Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said 5 181 murders were recorded between 1 January and 31 March 2026, down from 5 727 during the same period a year earlier.
The reduction of 546 murders represents a 9.5% decrease year-on-year. Compared with the same quarter in 2024, murders declined by 1 355 cases, a drop of 20.7%.
“Most strikingly, murder has decreased nationally by 9.5%,” Cachalia said, describing murder as the country’s most reliable indicator of crime levels.
The decline in killings formed part of a broader downward trend in violent crime. Contact crimes, which include offences involving direct interaction between perpetrators and victims, fell by 4.6%, with 7 405 fewer cases reported than in the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.
Several categories of aggravated robbery also recorded significant declines.
House robberies dropped by 20.4%, while business robberies were down by 18.3%. Robberies at non-residential premises recorded the biggest decrease, falling by 22%.
Crime affecting homes, businesses and personal property also showed signs of improvement. Property-related offences, including burglary and theft of and from motor vehicles, declined by 8.5%, while other serious crimes such as general theft and shoplifting decreased by 4.2%.
Cachalia credited the progress, in part, to cooperation between law enforcement agencies and communities working together to combat crime.
However, he warned the latest figures should not be interpreted as a sign that the country’s crime challenges have been resolved.
Despite the decline, an average of 58 murders a day was recorded during the three-month period.
“A decrease in crime is not the same as achieving safety,” Cachalia said.
“Our goal is not just fewer crimes, but that communities are and feel safe everywhere.”
The latest statistics show that Gauteng, Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal all recorded notable reductions in murder cases. Despite these improvements, the four provinces continued to account for more than 80% of murders nationally.
Looking ahead, Cachalia said the government would continue driving police reforms, intensify the fight against organised crime and expand violence-prevention programmes aimed at addressing the underlying social conditions that contribute to violent offending.
“These statistics provide us with guidance,” he said.
“Our task is to transform this decline in violent crime into a sustained, long-term reduction in violence and organised criminality across the country.”
While the figures point to encouraging gains in several key crime categories, authorities say sustained efforts will be needed to ensure the downward trend translates into lasting improvements in public safety.