SA murder rate edges down

In the first three months of this year, SAPS recorded a national rate of 8.2 murders per 100,000 people. The total number of murders has declined every quarter for the past three years.

Over a full year — April 2025 to March 2026 — the murder rate was 36.6 murders per 100,000 population — down from 40.7 in the preceding twelve months.

But there is little cause for celebration, as violent crime remains high. The average murder rate for Africa is about 12.7 per 100,000 population. And the international average is about 5.6.

58 people were killed every day in South Africa between January and March this year. Murder rates are exceptionally high in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

In total, 5,181 people were murdered between January and March:

• 1,223 in Gauteng
• 1,058 in KwaZulu-Natal
• 983 in Western Cape
• 949 in Eastern Cape
• 253 in Mpumalanga
• 271 in North West
• 192 in Free State
• 175 in Limpopo
• 77 in Northern Cape

According to the SAPS’ crime statistics release for January to March, the main drivers of murders are:

• Arguments, misunderstandings, road rage and provocation: 898
• Vigilantism and mob justice: 299
• Retaliation, revenge or punishment: 251
• Gang-related: 242 (only 17 gang-related murders were outside the Western Cape)
• Robbery: 235

Most murders take place in public places (2,587) or the homes of a perpetrator or victim (1,523). 160 murders take place at liquor outlets.

The latest stats show the need for continued efforts to improve policing, crime intelligence, investigation, and prosecution.

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