The most recent crime statistics in South Africa for the current quarter of the year show an alarming accumulation of violent crime in the country.
According to Police Minister Bheki Cele, the country recorded 7,004 reported killings in the three months to September 30, 2022, equivalent to another 78 people killed every day in the country.
But the country’s unrest is all about homicides: the minister said crime figures show aggression and violence are at worrying levels in South Africa.
“The months of July to September saw a record number of cases of attacks reported to police in five years. The SAPS nationwide investigated a total of 85,640 cases of attacks with intent to cause serious physical harm (GBH) and cases of attacks not unusual than 3 months of reports,” he said.
Knowledge of the crime includes the cases in which many of those cases occur, and shows that South Africans are an angry population.
Arguments, anger at the wheel, provocation and misunderstandings, as well as retaliation, revenge and punishment, are again the main motives for GBH’s aggressions, Cele said, while the killings follow the same general patterns.
Surveillance cases are also expanded, the minister noted, with 528 lives claimed in so-called “community justice. “
Crime levels nationwide are highest between July and September 2022, with more common double-digit increases. Cele noted that this is because crime levels are compared to the same time in 2021, when the country is still at the highest levels of lockdown.
However, even comparing knowledge of violent crime to pre-Covid levels, it is clear that cases are on the rise.
Before Covid, the quarterly homicide rate registered another nine people equivalent to 100,000 inhabitants. In the most recent figures, this figure has risen to 12 equivalent to 100,000. A similar trend is observed with other categories of violent crimes such as physical assault (73 consisting of 100,000 in 2Q23 versus 66 consisting of 100,000 in 2Q22) and attempted homicide (10 versus 8, respectively).
Across the country, South Africa has noticed a new province emerging as the most violent when it comes to killings.
The Eastern Cape’s homicide rate (per 100,000 people) rose to 19. 7 in the quarter, surpassing KwaZulu Natal by a margin. In the same year last year, the two provinces were tied at 15. 0.
KZN remains the violent peak of the moment, with a homicide rate of 16. 0. It is followed by the Western Cape with 14. 5 and Gauteng with 9. 8.
Looking at the 30 most sensitive homicide police stations in the country, which are the police stations closest to where the homicide was located and where the crime was reported, Inanda, in KZN, ranks as the most violent area, with 99 homicides registered in the region.
Then come Umlazi in KZN and Nyanga and Delft in the Western Cape.
Reflecting overall provincial homicide rates, the main reported homicide stations are governed by the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal, the Western Cape, and Gauteng.
Where the murders happen
According to SAPS data, the maximum number of homicides are in public positions, such as on the street, outdoors, in parking lots or on beaches. This is also the case with attempted murder.
However, the most common location for murders is the victim’s apartment or some other apartment known to the victim. In particular, this is the maximum productive position where GBH aggression takes position.
Other assassinations, assassination attempts, and not unusual attack sites come with cars, whether it’s a car, bus or taxi, or taverns and liquor stores.
Worryingly, Cele noticed an increase in the number of mass shootings facing the SAPS. Police revealed at least four mass homicides during the period, adding three mass shootings and one homicide at a farm where seven other people died in a house robbery.
The SAPS is investigating 250 homicide cases, with 578 victims, he said.
Pistols are also the primary weapon used in homicide cases, outnumbering knife homicides by a ratio of 3 to 1. After guns and knives, most common deadly weapons are other sharp objects and unspecified blunt instruments.
Given its importance in the crime narrative in South Africa, SAPS will pay special attention to farm murders in its data. Police recorded 16 victims of farm killings in the country in 10 incidents.
Read: Big jump in South African kidnappings: These are flashpoints and a worrying new trend to watch out for
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