January to March reported cases of murder increase compared to the previous year.
The National Department of Police has released the crime statistics from the period between January and March 2021. During this period, 137 314 contact crimes against persons were reported to the police across the country, compared to the 150 132 cases reported at the same period in 2020. This is a decrease of 12 818 reported cases and also showed decreases in reported cases of sexual offences, common assault and robbery, malicious damage to property and crime detected as a result of police action.
There have been increases in the number of reported cases of murder, attempted murder, carjacking and robberies at residential and non-residential premises. It is important to note that this year’s statistics take into account the effect Covid-19 and the pandemic lockdown had on the numbers and figures as compared to in 2020.
According to the latest statistics, 4 976 murders were reported during this time, an increase of 387 while cases of sexual offenses dropped by 494 cases to have a total of 12 133; 387 less rapes were reported during this time to have total of 9 518 compared to the 9 905 in 2020, 10 792 in 2019 and 9 695 in 2018.
This suggests that 4.7 rape cases were reported nationally per hour on average during the 89-day period. This equates to just over 113 rape cases a day, a little under 794 a week and 3172 per month over the three-month period.
In the first three months of the year reported murders increased to a total of 4 976 while attempted murders also increased to 4 582. Both murder and attempted murder decreased by 8.4 and 8.7 per cent respectively. Cases of assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm decreased by 3 751 to a total of 36 417. The number of crimes detected as a result of police action also declined during this period by 27.1 per cent. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs cases fell by 55.6 per cent to have a total of 8 583 cases compared to the 19 330 cases reported last year. Drug-related crimes decreased by a 7 412 cases to have a total of 35 932.
To see the national police department’s full presentation on the stats, please follow this link, https://www.saps.gov.za/services/fourth_quarter_2020_21_crimestats.pdf
