Yasmin Bilal
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says South Africa has recorded declines in several serious crimes. However, he warned that the country cannot afford to become complacent.
Speaking at the release of the first-quarter crime statistics for the 2026/27 financial year in Pretoria today, Cachalia said murder had declined for another consecutive quarter.
He also highlighted significant reductions in carjackings, residential robberies, business robberies and cash-in-transit robberies.
Cachalia said the sustained declines showed that intelligence-led policing, targeted operations and improved collaboration between law enforcement agencies were beginning to have an impact.
However, he stressed that the reductions did not erase the reality of violent crime in communities.
“Every murder remains one too many. Every victim deserves justice,” Cachalia said.
He also raised concern about crime categories that had increased during the reporting period. He particularly highlighted crimes affecting women, children and other vulnerable people.
Cachalia said gender-based violence and femicide remained an urgent priority. He said this required sustained investment in prevention, victim support, investigations and prosecutions.
He said crime remained highly concentrated. A relatively small number of police precincts account for a disproportionate amount of violent crime.
Police MinMEC has resolved to prioritise interventions in 140 high-crime police station precincts.
These stations will receive targeted operational support, enhanced oversight and improved resource allocation.
Cachalia also identified alcohol as a primary driver of violence. He said violence was concentrated at night and over weekends, particularly in and around liquor outlets.
He said a substantial proportion of murders and serious assaults involved people who had been drinking and were attacking people they knew. These incidents often followed trivial arguments.
“We cannot arrest our way out of that,” Cachalia said.
He called for stronger enforcement of liquor licensing and municipal by-laws. He also called for a national conversation about alcohol.
The minister said joint operations with the South African National Defence Force would continue.
These operations would take place alongside efforts to tackle organised crime, extortion syndicates, kidnapping networks, illegal mining and gangsterism.
He said the latest statistics reinforced the importance of the SAPS Reset Agenda.
The agenda aims to build a modern, professional and community-centred police service. It is intended to be intelligence-driven, ethical, responsive and accountable.
Cachalia said the agenda includes improving investigations, strengthening crime intelligence and enhancing visible policing.
It also includes investing in technology and supporting detectives.
He called for stronger cooperation between police and communities.
Cachalia pointed to recent arrests following the Reiger Park shootings as an example of what could be achieved when the public shares information with law enforcement.
As the country prepares for the upcoming local government elections, Cachalia said law enforcement agencies would work with stakeholders to ensure the electoral environment remained safe.
He said this was necessary to support free and fair democratic participation.
Cachalia said the first-quarter statistics showed progress, but significant challenges remained.
“We are not yet where we want to be, but we remain determined, united and focused on getting there,” he said.