The Eastern Cape’s murder rate has shown a slight decline in the third quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.
The statistics, reflecting crimes committed between October and December 2023 indicate a reduction of 41 murders, with the total number standing at 1460.
This is compared to the same period the previous year - October to December 2022, when the total number of murders committed in that period stood at 1 501.
The stats were released by Eastern Cape Community Safety MEC Xolile Nqatha on Thursday.
The most dangerous areas in the province – that are all in the top 30 stations for murder – include Mthatha (at number 13 on the national list recording 49 murders), New Brighton (at number 15 with 46 murders), Motherwell (17, 42 murders), Willowvale (18, 41 murders) and Kwazakhele, that recorded 40 murders in the three months and is at number 20 on the national top 30 police stations for murder.
Sexual offences have increased by 0.1% with the reported number of cases at 2515 from 2518 the previous year.
Rape has decreased by 0.2% and stands at 2096 cases reported.
Carjackings decreased by 5.2% with the total number of cases reported at 510 between October and December 2023, down from 538 the previous year.
The crime stats also reflected an increase of 3.4% for robbery at residential premises, a surge of 19 additional crimes, from 552 to 571 in three months.
