Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has admitted that South Africa is still failing too many victims of violent crime, saying “too many criminals escape justice,” as the country’s latest quarterly crime statistics reveal persistently high murder levels, with several Western Cape hotspots showing renewed or worsening spikes.
Speaking ahead of Friday’s release of the first and second-quarter crime figures for the 2025/26 financial year, Cachalia delivered a frank and emotional assessment of the country’s crime crisis.
“I know what it feels like to be mugged in the streets, or raided in one’s home,” he said.
“My heart goes out to those who are affected. All of us want dignity for our families, and that requires enforcement by government institutions that must work.”
Violent crime remains entrenched, with the Western Cape a key pressure point.
The statistics across the two quarters, covering April to September 2025, show a decrease of 6.9% (April to June) and 11.5% (July to September) in the murder rate, compared to the same period in 2024.
But while the national picture is encouraging, murder rates sharply rose in several areas in the Western Cape, notably Mfuleni, Delft, Gugulethu and Kraaifontein.
Across the two quarters, South Africa recorded:
- 5,430 murders in Q1
- 5,270 murders in Q2
While this represents a national dip, the Western Cape continues to feature heavily in the Top 30 murder stations, with multiple precincts appearing consistently across both quarters.
Western Cape murder hotspots appear in both Q1 and Q2: Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Gugulethu, Harare, Delft, Mitchells Plain, Philippi East, Kraaifontein, Kensington, Bishop Lavis and Atlantis.
These stations not only remain among the highest contributors to the national murder count, but several show signs that murders are increasing or stabilising at extremely high levels, driven mainly by gang violence.
Cachalia acknowledged the Western Cape’s ongoing challenges, saying he remains confident the province’s integrated anti-gang strategy is “the right one,” but warned that “the challenge is implementation.”
He confirmed he is in “constant contact” with the Western Cape Police Commissioner and that prosecutors have begun working more closely with detectives on gang-related dockets.
Cachalia will visit the Western Cape early next year alongside station commanders and Premier Alan Winde to “align strategy” and strengthen province-wide coordination.
Rape, assault and kidnapping remain high
Nationally, the violent crime picture remains bleak:
- Rape increased from 6,559 cases in Q1 to 7,204 in Q2.
- Assault GBH topped 31,000 cases each quarter.
- Carjackings, business robberies and truck hijackings remain stubbornly high.
- Kidnapping, often tied to extortion and criminal networks, is rising.
Cachalia said that while some categories show “significant declines,” the country cannot lose sight of the human cost: “One rape, one murder, one assault is one too many.”
‘Drugs, alcohol and guns are fuelling the violence’
Cachalia said the widespread availability of firearms remained a critical driver of murder in the Western Cape, where most killings involve guns.
“Access to firearms is a key enabler,” he said. “Guns are used to kill young people and drive gang violence. Part of the solution must be stopping firearms from flooding our communities.”
He also warned that drugs and alcohol are “recruiting our young people into a life of crime.”
Accountability inside SAPS – and the Madlanga Committee
Responding to allegations of corruption and infiltration within SAPS made through retired Justice Madlanga and the Ad Hoc Committee on National Security, Cachalia said the revelations were “worrying but in the minority.”
“It is a shameful but needed process,” he said. “It will yield the information we need to move forward.”
Gender-based violence: a national crisis
Cachalia reiterated that GBV remains “a deeply rooted societal problem,” saying policing alone cannot address the underlying causes. Victim empowerment and support programmes, he said, must be strengthened.
‘Not a time to rest’
Despite early indications of improvement in some crime categories, Cachalia urged caution.
“I am heartened by the decline in violent crime statistics,” he said. “But this is not a time to rest. Further progress is possible over time, but it requires persistence and determination.”
He concluded by calling on communities to join the fight against crime:
“Crime fighting is everyone’s problem. Join your community structures. Hold leaders accountable. Work with the police so we can reclaim our streets.”
