Police Minister Senzo Mchunu announced on Friday that the South African Police Service (Saps) has dedicated next week Thursday to reviewing policing in high murder zones, while he observed an overall decrease in several categories of crime in the quarterly crime statistics.

Mchunu released the crime statistics for the third quarter of 2024/25, in Pretoria, where he pointed out that the issue of gang violence required a rethink in approach.

The crime statistics showed a 9.8% decrease in murder cases; a 3.3% reduction in rape cases; a 3.2% drop in attempted sexual offences and a notable decline in carjackings and robberies at both residential and non-residential premises.

The statistics cover the period from October 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024.

Mchunu highlighted that the Western Cape had the highest number of gang-related murders, with 263 counts reported in this quarter alone.

“This is completely unacceptable and it must change. A large number of these murders (collectively amounting to a figure of 135) occurred in Bishop Lavis, Mitchells Plain, Kleinvlei, Delft and Elsies River,” he said.

He explained that upcoming discussions would focus on murders and firearms, after which a decision on the concrete steps needed would be taken.

He highlighted that partnerships with communities and others would be a critical element in the rethink in approach.

Saps has noted concerns from the public about extortion, kidnappings and drugs, with Mchunu pointing out that these matters would receive attention on Thursday.

“We note that most of these kidnappings are said to be orchestrated from St Albans Prison, and the mastermind of these kidnappings still has access to a number of cell phones,” he said.

For the third quarter, all provinces recorded a decrease in murder cases, marking a significant milestone in the national crime reduction efforts.

“…however, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal remain the highest contributors to overall national murder figures, accounting for 25.0% and 21.4% respectively, followed by the Eastern Cape at 18.9% and the Western Cape at 17.4%,” he said.

He noted that while there was an overall reduction in contact crimes against women, the Saps was concerned by the increase in attempted murder cases against children aged 0 to 17 years.

This, he said was an alarming development that called for a concerted effort to protect the most vulnerable members of the society.

Mchunu noted that rape cases had increased in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and the Free State, whereas other provinces have recorded decreases.

“…this data serves as a stark reminder that gender-based violence remains a critical issue requiring intensified interventions,” he said.

He highlighted that a 4.5% reduction in stock theft, was a welcome relief for farmers, communities and the agricultural sector as a whole, saying the positive shift highlighted the importance of continued collaboration between law enforcement, local leaders and communities to safeguard the industry.

“…although the percentage appears to be relatively small, we note the outcry of communities that farm livestock, particularly in the eastern Free State, north-western parts of KZN and in the northern Eastern Cape, hence our plan to combine these three provinces in a meeting to discuss this challenge,” Mchunu said.

He said there was an increase in cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and malicious damage to property, highlighting that these crimes continued to disrupt communities and demanded a reinforced response from law enforcement.