Latest Crime Stats: a harsh reality

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South Africa's murder rate for the last financial year has shown an increase of 686 murders bringing the total to 21 022.

That means that 57 people are murdered in the country every single day.

Police Minister Bheki Cele, national police commissioner Khehla Sitole and his team presented the country's crime statistics to Parliament's police portfolio committee on Thursday morning.

Major General Norman Sekhukhune, head of police crime research and statistics says most murders were committed over the weekends from Friday night through to the early hours of Monday morning.

He added that alcohol and drugs played a huge part in these crimes.

The pattern for attempted murders mirrored that of murders.

Murder Stats in a nutshell:

• Murder: 21 022
• Women: 2 271
• Children: 1 014

(Saps highlights the fact that many children are killed by other children)

• Domestic violence: 1 115
• Taxi related murders: 321
• Gang-related murders: 1 120
• Revenge murders: 256
• Illegal mining murders: 62
• Farm murders: 47 (in 41 reported incidents)
• Police officers on duty: 28
• Police officers off duty: 39

Other crimes:

• Attempted Murder 18 980
• Assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm: 17 979
• Rape: 41 583
• Common Assault: 162 012

Click here for the full list of crime Stats for 2018/2019