Guns responsible for almost half the murders during first 3 months of 2025 – crime stats

JOHANNESBURG - Guns remain the most frequently used instrument for murder, as they are responsible for almost half of all killings during the first three months of 2025.

Between 1 January and 31 March, 5,727 people were murdered across the country, with guns being used in 2,559 incidents.

Earlier on Friday, Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu presented the fourth quarter crime stats in Pretoria.

While the fourth quarter murder rate decreased by more than 12%, Mchunu said that 5,727 people dying within three months was unacceptable.

According to the police stats, next to guns, knives were the most frequently used objects to commit murder, while stones were the least, accounting for 75 deaths in this quarter.

Mchunu said that stricter gun law enforcement was needed.

"One of our stated priorities is the reduction of illegal firearms and the tightening of control over legally owned firearms. In the quarter under review, 4,023 cases of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were registered, a 2.7% increase compared to the same period last year.”

During the fourth quarter, police recorded ten events where five or more people were killed at once, with seven of those being mass shootings.