By Everson Luhanga
- Police minister Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia said more officers have been deployed and police are “turning the tide”, but communities remain gripped by fear.
- Police watchdog Ian Cameron warned that the stats mean little in areas where “daily bloodshed” and weak policing continue to fail South Africans.
South Africa is still facing a deadly crisis, with 63 people murdered every day — despite a slight drop in national crime stats.
Between April and September 2025, a total of 11,616 people were killed, according to police figures released this week. That is fewer than the previous six months, but the number remains frighteningly high.
Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia said the country “cannot celebrate” while thousands still die violently every month. “We are not yet where we want to be.. But we are turning the tide. We are responding by putting more boots on the ground and improving policing, “ said Cachalia.
Cachalia said murders linked to arguments, robberies and gang violence continue to be a major concern. “We are still seeing too many people being killed by those they know, over petty fights,” he said.
He promised that more officers would be deployed in hotspot areas, especially in the run-up to the festive season.
The Eastern Cape again had the highest murder rate per 100,000 people, while Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal had the highest total number of killings.
Cachalia said: “Gang violence in parts of the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal is still driving many of the murders.”
But not everyone is convinced the numbers tell the full story.
Ian Cameron, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, said the stats show a small drop on paper — but not on the ground.
“The reality is that we are still facing daily bloodshed in many communities,” said Cameron. “Crime stats don’t matter to a mother who loses her son in a gang crossfire, or a family robbed at gunpoint.”
Cameron said poor policing, lack of accountability and delays in justice are still failing the public.
“Until we see police that arrive on time, investigators that follow up, and courts that work — people will keep living in fear,” he said.
Civil society groups also say the data remains incomplete. They accuse the police of delaying stats on gender-based violence and crimes against children.
“There is no trust if police hide the worst crimes,” said one advocacy group leader.
With the December holidays approaching, Cele urged communities to stay alert and report crime. But many South Africans say they feel abandoned — and that change is too slow to keep them safe.
Pictured above: Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia announces national crime stats and plans for festive season safety.
Image source: Supplied
