Crime stats: Slight drop in reported murders, sexual offences

Crime stats: Slight drop in reported murders, sexual offences

The latest crime statistics show a slight decrease in the number of murders and sexual offences reported in the second quarter of the year.

Bheki Cele
GCIS

This was confirmed by the head of crime research at SAPS, Norman Sekhukhune, during a briefing before the Parliament's police committee on Friday.

The data cover crimes that were reported between July and September.

Sekhukhune told the committee that 6,945 murders were reported between July and September  - a decrease of 0.7% compared to the previous quarter.

There has also been a drop of 1.5% in the number of sexual offences reported.

"In the current quarter, 6945 murders have been reported to the police, which is a reduction of 59 murders compared to the previous comparable quarter whereby we moved from 7004 to 6945.

“For sexual 130 90 cases had been reported to the police, a reduction of 193. Attempted murders, 69 11 cases had been reported to the police, an increase of 756.

“Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. 42 297 cases had been reported, resulting in an increase of 1046.

“Common assault, 45 348 cases had been reported, resulting in an increase of 959.

“Robbery with aggravating circumstances, 38 851 cases had been reported, resulting in an increase of 439," said Sekhukhune.

MURDER 

Sekhukhune says contributing factors attributed to murder include arguments, misunderstanding, road rage or provocation, which was attributed to 1 053 murders.

"We also had 428 murders attributed to mob justice and vigilantism, 420 robbery-related and 280 gang-related murders ,which were mostly reported in the Western Cape.

“There were also 81 murders committed during the commission of other crimes, 62 murders related to hijacking and attempted hijacking and 50 taxi-related murders.

“We also had 17 rape-related murders, 12 linked to illegal mining and 10 at educational places."

Places of occurrence include public places, residents of victims or perpetrators, liquor outlets, mining areas, educational institutions and public transport premises.

WOMEN AND CHILDREN 

Sekhukhune says  881 women had been murdered in the current quarter, a 108 decrease in reported cases compared to the previous quarter.

A total of 1514 women were victims of attempted murder, and 14 401 women were victims of assault GBH, an increase of 700 reported cases compared to the previous quarter.

During the same reporting period, 293 children were murdered in the current quarter, 361 attempted murder cases were reported and 1 820 assault GBH cases against children.

SEXUAL OFFENCES 

Sekhukhune says there were 10 516 rape cases that were reported to the police. This is a reduction of  74 fewer cases reported compared to the previous quarter.

"We had 1 847 sexual assault cases reported, resulting in a decrease of 48 fewer cases reported compared to the previous quarter.

“There was a 23 increase in attempted sexual offences cases reported, resulting in 559 cases reported," he said.

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