Violent crime crisis deepens in Nelson Mandela Bay

The Eastern Cape has the highest murder and rape rates in SA, new police statistics show. Residential robberies are also on the rise.

- By Estelle Ellis

The latest police statistics, which cover the period between January and March and were released by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on 23 May, paint a grim picture of crime in Nelson Mandela Bay and the rest of the Eastern Cape, where 1,020 murders were recorded.

Among the police stations that registered the most murder cases were KwaZakhele (sixth), New Brighton (eighth), Motherwell (17th), KwaNobuhle (19th) and KwaDwesi (21st). The Eastern Cape still had the highest murder rate in the country at 15.4 per 100,000 people.

The DA’s provincial chairperson, Yusuf Cassim, said combining quarterly stats for the 2024/25 financial year, 4,804 people were murdered in the Eastern Cape — an average of 13 lives lost every day.

The province also had the highest rate for rape cases opened in South Africa, with a ratio of 24.7 per 100,000 people.

Kidnappings increased by 6.3% and 235 cases were reported, including 13 incidents involving ransom demands.

Residential robberies were also on the rise and 617 households were targeted in just three months. Stock theft was up by 8.5% and 1,628 cases were reported.