Crime stats: Harrowing spike in murders, rapes
More than 6 000 people were killed in South Africa between July and September of this year.
A total of 1 744 of the murders occurred in KwaZulu-Natal.
Police Minister Bheki Cele says the country recorded a 20.7% increase in the murder rate over the three-month period.
Cele briefed Parliament on the crime stats for the second quarter of 2021 on Friday.
"Among the many other factors that contributed to the increase in murders, was the July unrests which affected mostly the KwaZulu-Natal province and Gauteng.
"This is evidenced by the KwaZulu-Natal province recording a 44.4% increase in its murder cases in the period of July to September this year."
Cele said there were nearly 10 000 people raped in three months.
"9 556 people were raped between July and September 2021. This is an increase of 634 cases, amounting to a 7,1% increase compared to the previous reporting period.
"A sample of 6 144 rape cases revealed that 3 951 of the rape incidents took place at the home of the victim or the home of the rapist.
"Liquor and drugs were involved in 1 383 of the rape cases. 400 rape cases were domestic violence-related, meaning the victim and perpetrator have a relationship.
"The Temba police station in Gauteng, Thohoyandou station in Limpopo and the Eastern Cape’s Lusikisiki and Inanda in KZN police stations recorded the highest incidents of rape."
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