The delayed release of South Africa’s first and second-quarter crime statistics for 2025/26 has ignited a wave of alarm and distrust, as opposition parties and civil society groups condemn escalating violent crime—particularly gender-based violence (GBV)—and the perceived collapse of the national police service.

ActionSA member of Parliament Dereleen James raised concerns that 63 South Africans were murdered every day, confirming that vulnerable citizens face escalating danger in communities.

“Even schools are not being spared. Almost 200 rapes were recorded on school grounds during this period,” she said.

Western Cape gang-related murders rose from 282 (April-June) to 293 (July-September), indicating sustained community vulnerability to warring gangs.

“In Cape Town, the picture becomes even more troubling. Four of the top five murder stations in the country fall within the city, making clear that it remains the epicentre of a deeper failure to end the violence terrorising forgotten communities,” said James.

James said the delayed release inspired little confidence that the government can effectively address the violent crime destroying the country.

“With both the Ad Hoc Committee and the Madlanga Commission confirming the extent of criminal capture, it is increasingly clear that South Africa has been captured by rampant lawlessness,” stated James.

DA KZN spokesperson on Community Safety, Riona Gokool MPL, highlighted that KZN disproportionately contributes to South Africa’s violent crime burden.

Gokool noted that several KZN SAPS stations, including Inanda, Umlazi, and Chatsworth, consistently rank as high national contributors, signalling an ongoing crisis in policing and accountability.

Despite a slight drop in murder rates, KZN still accounts for over 20% of the national murders.

Contact crimes—including assault GBH, attempted murder, and aggravated robbery—remain prevalent, frequently occurring in public spaces, liquor outlets, and homes.

“We call for the immediate implementation of a Provincial Joint Crime Response Plan to ensure coordinated action between SAPS, Metro Police, and KZN’s Department of Community Safety,” she said.

Gokool noted that this plan must identify key hotspots and establish joint command structures.

Wouter Wessels MP, spokesperson on Police for Freedom Front Plus, said crime can only thrive in a country where high-ranking officials tasked with protecting the public are involved in major crime syndicates.

The July-to-September crime statistics, while showing a decrease compared to the April-to-June quarter, should be interpreted with cautious optimism, according to Wessels.

He said public confidence in the police will undoubtedly plummet further as information is revealed to the Madlanga Commission and the parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee.

Wessels noted that police divisions face challenges due to budget constraints, staff shortages, and low morale.

He said annual police reports expose systemic failures: forensic services face a 33% DNA backlog hindering prosecutions; the detective service achieves only 43% of targets, having lost over 8,400 experienced personnel since 2016.

Regarding the credibility of crime data, DefenceWeb reported that the Auditor-General labelled up to 30% of all police data “unreliable” for various reasons, calling for an evaluation of the crime stats.

Civil rights organisation Action Society said the latest crime stats show that the fundamentals of policing in the country are not working.

The organisation warned that the country needs working systems, trained officers, and functioning forensic services.

It said delays in releasing the stats have eroded public confidence and underscore the need for transparent systems that can deliver accurate data.

The organisation stated that across both quarters, the pattern remains unchanged: violent crime remains exceptionally high, deterrence remains low, and there is still no evidence of improvement in the state’s ability to respond to crimes against women and children.

Action Society spokesperson Juanita du Preez said the statistics reflect a country that urgently needs functional, practical, and properly resourced policing and justice structures.

Du Preez added that releasing these figures during the annual 16 Days of Activism should force the government to adopt real operational reforms.

Action Society stated that the national disaster declaration will remain meaningless unless SAPS leadership and the minister of Police are held directly accountable for measurable progress.

karen.singh@inl.co.za

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