The South African Police Service released third-quarter crime statistics for 2025, showing decreases in murder and reported rape cases nationwide. Gauteng recorded the highest number of contact crimes, contributing 25.5% to the total. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia noted that while progress has been made, crime levels remain unacceptably high.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) unveiled its third-quarter crime statistics for 2025 in Pretoria on February 20, 2026. The data covers the period from October 1 to December 31, 2025, and indicates a general decrease in various crime categories.
SAPS Crime Registrar Major-General Thulare Sekhukhune highlighted that Gauteng had the highest contribution to contact crimes at 25.5%, followed by the Western Cape at 18%, KwaZulu-Natal at 17.5%, and the Eastern Cape at 11%. He stated, “The province with the highest contribution in terms of the contact crimes is Gauteng, which contributes 25.5%. The second-highest contributor is the Western Cape with 18%. The third-highest is KwaZulu-Natal with 17.5%, and the fourth-highest is Eastern Cape with 11%. Across all three months that make up the quarter, we have recorded decreases.”
Regarding rape cases, Sekhukhune reported a national decrease of 373 incidents, from 11,803 in the previous comparable period to 11,430. However, increases were noted in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and the Western Cape. He explained, “We have recorded a decrease of 373 rapes, whereas in the previous comparable period we had 11,803 rapes. Currently, we have reported 11,430, and the three provinces that have recorded increases in terms of the rapes are the provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Western Cape.”
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia announced an 8.7% decrease in the murder rate compared to the same quarter in 2024. Double-digit reductions occurred in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, and North West provinces, with smaller decreases in the Western and Eastern Cape, and slight increases in Limpopo and Northern Cape. Cachalia emphasized, “While we have seen double-digit reduction in murder in five provinces... much smaller decreases were recorded in the Western and Eastern Cape, with slight increases recorded in Limpopo and Northern Cape.” He added that crime levels in the country remain unacceptably high despite these improvements.
