Q3 crime stats: Cachalia says murder rate continues to decline

Acting police minister Firoz Cachalia says violent crimes, including murder, have shown a consistent decline since 2023. 

Over the past two years, the overall violent crime rate has decreased by 8.3%. 

Cachalia said fewer people were murdered in the last three months of 2025 compared to the previous quarter. 

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The murder rate declined by 8.7% during this period. 

He delivered the third-quarter SAPS crime statistics in Pretoria on Friday.

"During this quarter, total violent crime decreased again by 6.7%, or 12,682 fewer cases reported to the south african police service compared with the same quarter last year. Over the last two years, total violent crime for this quarter is down by 8.3%, or 15,763 fewer cases. This trend may well be attributable to enhanced policing operations such as Operation Shanela."