Crime stats show alarming rise in murders
More than 7,700 people were murdered in South Africa between October and December.
"It is disturbing and concerning that the number of people murdered during this period increased by 2.1%, leading to 155 more people murdered as compared to the same period,” Police Minister Bheki Cele said on Friday.
Cele released the crime statistics for the third quarter.
"Amongst the top 5 stations where murders were reported are in Inanda in KZN and Umfuleni, Gugulethu, Nyanga and Khayelitsha in the Western Cape."
While the overall murder rate has gone up, KwaZulu-Natal, along with the Eastern Cape and the Free State saw a drop in the number of people killed compared to the same period the previous year.
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"While they may not be out in the woods, it is important to highlight that the tension and more resources have been allocated to stations that have the highest number of murders reported. The majority of the top 30 stations where murder was most reported include the Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal, Gauteng, and Eastern Cape,” the minister said.
Cele explained that arguments, misunderstandings, and provocations continue to be some of the main contributing factors to murders.
Five-and-half per cent of the murders were linked to vigilantism and mob justice.
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