Between April and June, nearly 6,200 people were murdered in South Africa, according to police figures released on Friday, highlighting crime as a critical issue for the new coalition government.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu reported 6,198 murders during this period, a 0.5% decrease from the previous year.
“These numbers tell a sobering story, reflecting the severity of the challenges we face,” he stated at a Cape Town press conference. South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world.
Rapes, notorious in the country for targeting women and children, rose by 0.6%, totaling 9,309 incidents between April and June. Furthermore, police reported 44,735 drug-related crimes detected through their actions, thanks to significant operations against drug syndicates that resulted in substantial seizures of illegal narcotics.
Recently, elite police units arrested three Mexicans and two South Africans in relation to a multi-million-dollar crystal meth lab near Johannesburg. In another case, a Russian national was apprehended with a South African, along with 14 bags of cocaine valued at 252 million rand (approximately $14 million).
Crime remains a pressing issue for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s coalition government, formed after the African National Congress entered an uneasy alliance with the centrist Democratic Alliance and smaller parties following the May elections.
“These numbers represent more than just figures; they reflect the realities of our citizens—their fears, losses, and hopes for a safer tomorrow,” Mchunu emphasized. He vowed to confront these challenges head-on, ensuring that South Africa becomes a safer place for all.