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Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa says more than 800,000 arrests relating to serious crimes were made in the 2012/2013 financial year.
Speaking at the release of the 2012/2013 crime statistics in Pretoria on Thursday, Mthethwa said 806,298 arrests were made, with 352,513 convictions. He said 609 people were sentenced to 826 life sentences.
Mthethwa said family violence, child protection and sexual offences accounted for 499 of these life sentences.
He said the number of murders had increased by 0.6% in the past financial year.
There was also a 6.5% increase in attempted murder in the year under review.
Police Chief Riah Phiyega said the prevalence of violent crime remained a concern.
In its reaction to the latest crime stats, the Institute for Security Studies said an increase in serious and violent crime in South Africa showed that government's approach to crime is not working.
ISS analyst Gareth Newham said that after a long period of decreases in serious and violent crime, the figures released today are the worst seen in 10 years.
He said violence remains unacceptably high and should be treated as a serious crisis which stands in the way of South Africa's social and economic development.
