Gauteng sees 6.5% crime drop, still leading national stats
Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni says crime in the province is on a downward trend, crediting the decline to joint efforts between SAPS and law enforcement agencies.
He released the latest crime statistics for the third quarter of 2024/2025 on Friday.
The stats show a 6.5% decrease in overall crime between October and December.
Mthombeni praised law enforcement agencies for their role in reducing crime.
However, he noted that Gauteng remained the hardest-hit province, contributing 26.5% to the country’s overall crime stats for the quarter.
Contact crimes saw a 4.7% decrease, with 48,929 cases recorded between October and December 2024, compared to 51,327 in the same period in 2023.
Murder dropped by 2.5%, from 1,787 cases to 1,741.
However, attempted murder rose by 2.4% to 1,820 cases, and common assault increased by 670 cases, bringing the total to 14,970.
Mthombeni said the police also managed to attain success through integrated operations.
"We have arrested a total of 34,910 suspects for various crimes, including 10,936 illegal immigrants.
“Among them, 4,601 were arrested for contact crimes, with 140 facing murder charges and 114 for attempted murder.
“Additionally, 1,836 suspects were arrested for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, 1,650 for common assault, and 240 for robbery.
“During our operations, we shut down 1,414 illegal liquor outlets, seized over 160 million millilitres of alcohol, and arrested 4,007 suspects for liquor-related offences.
“We also confiscated 351 illegal firearms, including 31 rifles and seven shotguns, along with 6,608 rounds of ammunition," said Mthombeni.
He said the Hawks, along with the Provincial Organised Crime Investigations unit, arrested eight suspects and shut down six drug laboratories worth an estimated R310 million.
" These included facilities in Erasmia (crystal meth), Hammanskraal (hydroponic cannabis), Kibler Park (mandrax), Bedfordview (crystal meth, mandrax, and cannabis), De Deur (mandrax), and Sebenza (cannabis).
“Through Operation Vala Umgodi, a multidisciplinary team, including SAPS, the South African National Defence Force, Metropolitan Police Departments, Local Traffic, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, Home Affairs, Local Government, Community Policing Forums, and private security stakeholders, arrested 1,034 suspects, including 586 illegal immigrants.
“Authorities also seized mining equipment, including 1,589 pendukas, 164 generators, 483 explosives, and over 1.7 million grams of gold dust," added Mthombeni.
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