Pretoria, South Africa – In a significant development for national safety, the South African Cabinet has announced a sustained downward trend in murder cases across the country. This positive update comes after the South African Police Service (SAPS) released its Quarter 3 2025/26 crime statistics, painting a picture of progress in the ongoing fight against violent crime.

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, confirmed at Thursday’s post-Cabinet briefing that murder cases have seen an 8.7% decrease compared to the same period last year, translating to 602 fewer lives lost. Over the past two years, the murder rate for this quarter has dropped by an impressive 17.6%, representing 1,359 fewer murders.

This encouraging trend is not uniform across all regions but shows significant improvements in several provinces. Double-digit reductions in murder were recorded in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, and the North West. While the Western and Eastern Cape saw smaller decreases, Limpopo and the Northern Cape recorded slight increases. Notably, only 15 of the 30 highest-murder precincts nationally recorded decreases, underscoring the critical need for continued targeted community-level interventions.

Despite the overall positive outlook, Cabinet expressed deep concern over a notable increase in the murder of police officials during this quarter, with 23 officers losing their lives, approximately 80% of whom were killed while off duty. The National Commissioner of SAPS has been tasked with a full assessment to prevent such tragic losses in the future.

Beyond murder statistics, total contact crime—encompassing all categories of violent crime—also decreased by 6.7%, with 12,682 fewer cases reported to SAPS compared to the same quarter last year. Over two years, total violent crime for this quarter is down by 8.3%, or 15,763 fewer cases, a trend partially attributed to enhanced policing operations.

In other news from the briefing, Cabinet commended the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) for its work on the Home Affairs report, which aims to address corruption and fraud in the VISA application processes, safeguarding the integrity of South Africa’s official documents and immigration system. The Department of Home Affairs was also lauded for its progress in strengthening the country’s immigration system.

The latest crime statistics offer a glimmer of hope for South Africa, highlighting that dedicated efforts in policing and community engagement can lead to tangible improvements in public safety. However, the fight against crime remains complex, requiring sustained vigilance and strategic interventions to protect both citizens and those who serve to protect them.