Crime in Limpopo is on the rise
Provincial crime statistics for Limpopo were released by police on Friday.
It shows a rise in crime in the province.
Provincial Police Commissioner Nneke Ledwaba says contact crimes such as murder, rape and assault contributed greatly to the increase.
Murder increased by 15,6 percent over the past financial year.
The police's Samson Raphahlelo says murder was mostly reported in Thohoyandou, Seshego and Tzaneen.
"Murder in the last year...we were at 727. Right now we are at 898, which is an increase of 15,6 percent," Raphahlelo said.
Police say they were faced with challenges of violent protests in many areas, which diverted the men in blue from normal policing.
Raphahlelo says alcohol is the catalyst for most contact crimes, like murder, attempted murder, rape and assault.
"In terms of rape and other sexual offences, alcohol is also the reason for the crime where victims - when they return home from liquor outlets - suspects drag them to the bushes and rape them. Sometimes, they rape them at their own residential places."