North West records significant decrease in murders

The crime statistics released for the first quarter of the 2023/24 financial year have highlighted a significant decline in murder cases in North West.

Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, said murders for April to June 2023 in North West dropped by 10% and in Limpopo by 11.5% compared to the same period in the previous financial year. 

Despite the much-welcomed double-digit percentage declines that were noted in these two provinces, Northern Cape moved in the opposite direction and recorded an 11.1% increase in murders.

Speaking at the release of crime statistics hosted in Pretoria, Cele said the case docket analysis showed firearms, knives and sharp instruments remain the three top weapons of choice for murder.

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“Majority of the people murdered during this period were killed either during an argument, an act of vigilantism or their lives were cut short while being robbed," he said. 

"Of course, the 3.1% decline in the murder rate is no cause for celebration. 6 228 is not just a number. It is people whose lives were cut short at the hands of another.” 

He said notable decreases in other crime categories were also observed during this period. 

This includes a decrease in sexual offences by 1.9%, trio crimes declined by 5.2%, property-related crimes decreased by 4.5% and contact-related crimes decreased by 1.6%. 

More declines were also noted in rape and sexual assault counts reported to the police in the past three months.