SA murder rate decline reflects stronger crime-fighting efforts: Expert

Criminal justice expert, Lizette Lancaster, says the downward trend of murder cases in South Africa over the past two years reflects a coordinated effort by law enforcement to strengthen crime-fighting measures.

Her remarks come after the South African Police Service (SAPS) released the fourth quarter crime statistics for the 2025/26 financial year, covering the period between January and March.

The data showed that murder in the country dropped by 9.5%, with 1,355 fewer murders recorded compared to the same quarter in 2024.

However, the statistics also show that many people continue to feel unsafe in their homes, despite it being regarded as places of safety.

The data reveals that 1,523 killings took place either at the victim’s or perpetrator’s home during the reporting period.

Lancaster says the latest figures should be welcomed as a positive development.

Cachalia says 7267 cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily injury, rape, attempted murder, and murder were linked to alcohol abuse during the quarter under review.

He added that 898 murders were committed as a result of arguments and misunderstandings, while 251 were linked to revenge or punishment and another 299 to vigilantism.

“This is the sobering truth. If we want to reduce violent crimes we must confront the culture of violence. Also inside the homes, the mistaken idea that men must be violent to be respected and that women must put up with the violence to be loved must be relinquished. In fact history has clearly taught us that violence is destructive and a social problem that can be overcome as society makes progress.”

He says alcohol abuse remains a major driver of violent crime, particularly over weekends.

“Alcohol remains a powerful accelerant of this kind of violence. In this quarter 7267 incidents of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, rape, and attempted murder, and murder were linked to alcohol use. We must therefore address the toxic role of alcohol abuse in the scourge of violence. The more alcohol that is consumed, particularly on weekends, the more violence we will suffer. People go out to enjoy themselves on the weekends and instead of coming back home having enjoyed themselves they risk loosing their lives.”

Cachalia also reiterated his call for a national civilian patroller programme to be implemented across all provinces, saying funding challenges should not be viewed as an obstacle.

He says the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service has been tasked with developing a funding model and discussions have already taken place with MECs in several provinces.

Cachalia says trained and vetted patrollers could assist police in high-risk areas, including pension pay points, schools and areas where women are vulnerable to attacks.

The acting minister also announced the establishment of a Police Advisory Panel, which will be chaired by former South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter.

The panel will report to Cachalia and Acting National Commissioner, Puleng Dimpane, on implementing the recommendations of the Madlanga Commission.

Cachalia says the panel will also provide updates on the reset agenda introduced during his Budget Vote speech in Parliament, describing it as a strategy that will assist in strengthening the fight against crime in the country.

#sapsHQ Crime generally, and organised crime in particular, is not evenly spread across the country. It is heavily concentrated in our economic hubs and in certain high‑risk spaces.

Much organised crime is not present in these crime statistics but emerges in the data contained… pic.twitter.com/d35MZ5ft1F

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) May 22, 2026

📸📸 Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale, together with Acting National Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, present the quarterly crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, reflecting on crimes… pic.twitter.com/ZT2mmEyXg6

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) May 22, 2026

Written by: Odirile Rabalao