What the latest crime stats mean for SA

POLICE Minister Senzo Mchunu has declared that the fight against violent crime in South Africa is intensifying, as quarterly statistics reveal both encouraging declines in key crime categories and troubling spikes in others.

- ROBIN-LEE FRANCKE

Presenting the fourth quarter crime figures for the 2024/25 financial year on Friday, Mchunu said while progress is evident, critical challenges remain particularly in curbing sexual offences and commercial crime.

The annual crime statistics will be released in September.

"As the Ministry of Police under the 7th Administration, we have clearly outlined our policing priorities, these include: reducing the murder rate, reducing illegal firearms and tightening controls over legal firearms, fighting gender-based violence and femicide (GBV+F), dismantling organised crime, including drug trafficking syndicates, cash-in-transit heists, extortion, and kidnappings, tackling gang violence and combating corruption - both within the SAPS and across the country. Taxi violence is also receiving our attention, as we work together with the Minister of Transport," Mchunu said.

The Police Minister highlighted the conversations and concerns about claims of genocide in South Africa.

"It is claimed that there is 'white genocide' in South Africa, and as evidence, a lot of material has been put into circulation, including in the White House, in the US. These materials include pictures of crosses along a particular road, to name a few."

"We have respect for the US as a country, we have respect for the people in that country and for President Trump, but we have no respect for this genocide story at all. It is unfounded," Mchunu said.