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The United Nations has praised South Africa's efforts in halving its murder rate over the past five years.
According to the latest stats, the rate has dropped from 64.5 per 100 thousand people in 1995 to 31 per 100-thousand in 2012.
The report - by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime - says increasing police presence in high risk areas has helped reduce the rate.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has welcomed the findings. His department's David Barritt says they now want to turn their attention to keeping the rate down:
"The job is not done, true we have halved the murder rate, but he is not satisfied, he wants SA to become one of the safest countries in the world. I am sure police will do their utmost to ensure they have the resources they need" he said
