Violent crime persists in KZN despite slight decline in murder cases

RAPE, sexual offences and hijacking continue to pose serious challenges for public safety, as they are on the increase, the recently released crime statistics show.

- SIPHESIHLE BUTHELEZI

The stats released on Friday by the police showed that there was a slight decline in murder cases in KwaZulu-Natal between the first and second quarters. The crime statistics for Quarters 1 and 2. The stats are for the period between April and September.

According to the stats, murder cases dropped from 1 199 in the first quarter (Q1: April to June 2025) to 1 189 cases in the period from July to September 2025 (Q2). However, KZN still contributes to more than a fifth of all murders in the country. Many murders continue to occur in public places such as streets, open fields, parking areas and liquor outlets, which mirror national patterns.

The second quarter SAPS figures also show that Inanda, Plessislaer and Umlazi feature among the stations with the most rape cases nationally, while Inanda also records the highest number of house robberies in the country and Verulam ranks fourth.

Contact crimes rose from 26 428 cases in Q1 to 27 174 in Q2, while hijackings rose from 563 to 631. Rape cases increased from 1 844 to 1 969 while overall sexual offences went from 2 304 to 2 433 cases reported between the first and second quarters.