The crime stats sees an increase of 3.4% when compared to the same period last year with a total of 6 289 murders being reported from January to March 2023.

The attempted murders also showed an increase of 8.4%, with 6 192 cases reported to the police during the fourth quarter of 2022/2023 while the cases that involved assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm increased by 0.7% (43 090 reported cases).

Cele stated that the leading factors for murder, attempted murder and assualt to inflict grievous bodily harm seems to be arguments, misunderstandings, road rage and provocation.

In total, 49 266 common assault cases were reported, which represents an increased of 7.6% during the fourth quarter.

Child murders decreased by almost 20% (19.9%) and a slight decrease was also noted in the assault cases of children.

However, 29 more children were victims of attempted murder compared to the same period last year as 360 more attempted murder cases were registered and investigated by the SAPS involving minors.

Cele lamented that a further increase of 21.5% in attempted murders of women for the fourth quarter was recorded and 969 women were killed in the same period and over 15 000 women were assaulted.

Although there is an increase of 3.4% overall, the rape cases have shown a decrease in the period of reporting, with six provinces reporting less rape cases.

A total of 10 512 people were raped in the first three months of this year, as 4 768 of the rape incidents took place at the home of the victim or at the home of the perpetrator with Gauteng becoming the leading province with the most rape cases (2 168) reported between January and March 2023, followed by KZN with 2 130 reported cases. 

According to the stats, most violent crimes showed increases in cases reported between January and March this year and this includes murder, attempted murder, assault GBH, and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Unfortunately 24 police officers were killed in the first three months of 2023 and this includes officers who were on and off duty at the time of their deaths.

Meanwhile, there were 64 cases of cash-in-transit heists in South Africa between January and March 2023 as this shows a 20.8% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.