Latest crime stats: 6 400 people murdered in three months
A total of 6 424 people were murdered in South Africa between April and June this year.
It's 664 more killings compared to the same period last year.
Police Minister Bheki Cele released the crime statistics for the first quarter of the year on Friday.
"The three main causes for murders remain arguments and misunderstandings. Retaliation and revenge murders were the second motive for murder and vigilantism was the third most likely cause of murder in South Africa."
The Umlazi and Plessislaer police stations in Durban and Pietermartizburg registered the highest number of murder cases in the country, along with Umtata in the Eastern Cape.
"Two-hundred-and-twenty-one murder cases were reported in those three areas, combined."
READ: Cops who mistreat raped women must be dealt with - Cele
Cele said all three categories of assault have reported decreases.
"All three categories of assault have reported decreases, this includes Assault GBH, which saw over 7% less cases.
"Contact crimes cases were 2 205 less compared to the same period last year. The reduction is inclusive of sexual offences, common robberies, common assault and assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
"All these combined decreases have resulted in a 1,5% drop in all contact crimes."
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