JOHANNESBURG: Nearly 6,200 people were murdered in South Africa between April and June, according to police figures released on Friday. This represents a 0.5-percent decrease compared to the same period last year.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu described the numbers as a stark reminder of the serious challenges the country faces.
South Africa continues to grapple with one of the highest homicide rates in the world during peacetime. Rapes also saw a slight increase of 0.6 percent, with a total of 9,309 cases reported in the same three-month period.
In addition to violent crime, there were 44,735 drug-related offenses detected during this period. The police have conducted significant operations against drug syndicates, resulting in major seizures of illegal narcotics.
Notable recent operations include the arrest of three Mexicans and two South Africans at a multi-million-dollar crystal meth lab near Johannesburg, and the capture of a Russian national and a South African with 14 bags of cocaine worth approximately 252 million rand (nearly $14 million).
Crime remains a central issue for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new coalition government, which formed after the African National Congress, Ramaphosa’s party, entered a coalition with the centrist Democratic Alliance and other smaller parties following the May elections.
Mchunu emphasized the impact of these crime statistics, stating, “These numbers are more than just figures; they reflect the lived realities of our citizens—their fears, losses, and hopes for a safer future.” He pledged that the government will address these issues head-on to restore safety and security in South Africa.
