Quarterly SAPS Crime Statistics: Q2 Update (2024/2025)

03 Dec 2024

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has released the crime statistics for Quarter 2 (July to September) of the 2024/2025 period, comparing them to previous years. The numbers reveal some notable shifts in both property and contact crimes, showing both decreases and increases in various categories.

There have been significant decreases in certain types of crime. Carjacking, for example, saw a 9.4% drop, with 4,788 incidents recorded in 2024/2025 compared to 5,149 in the previous year. Similarly, robbery at non-residential premises decreased by 21.1%, with 12,473 incidents in Q2 of 2024/2025, down from 14,775 in the same period of 2023/2024. Burglary at non-residential premises also saw a reduction of 15.6%, with over 2,300 fewer incidents reported. Cash-in-transit robberies also declined, although the exact numbers were not detailed in the report. Truck hijacking saw a decrease of 15.3%, with 459 incidents in 2024/2025, compared to 542 in 2023, marking a positive trend in the reduction of this violent crime.

However, not all crime categories showed improvement. Commercial crime, in particular, saw a significant increase of 18.5%, rising from 30,630 incidents in 2023/2024 to 36,300 in 2024/2025. This jump reflects a growing concern for businesses, which have been increasingly targeted by criminal activities. Additionally, kidnapping saw a sharp rise of 7.6%, suggesting a disturbing trend in crimes against individuals.

When looking at contact crimes, which are crimes against the person, there was a mix of decreases and increases. Murder saw a decrease of 5.8%, with 6,945 incidents in Q2 of 2024/2025, down from 7,345 in the same period of 2023/2024. Common assault also declined by 1.4%, indicating a slight reduction in lower-level violent crimes. However, attempted murder increased by 2.2%, while contact sexual offences saw a 1.2% rise. These increases in more serious forms of violence and abuse suggest a need for continued attention and intervention in these areas. Kidnapping, another violent crime, saw an alarming rise of 7.6%, pointing to the growing impact of this type of crime.

In terms of property-related crimes, most categories showed a decline in incidents. Stock theft, for example, dropped by 286 incidents, from 6,935 in Q2 of 2023/2024 to 6,649 in Q2 of 2024/2025. Similarly, theft out of or from motor vehicles fell by 2,030 incidents, with 20,820 cases in 2024/2025 compared to 22,850 in 2023/2024. The theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles also decreased, from 9,586 incidents in 2023/2024 to 8,597 in 2024/2025. The most significant decrease was seen in burglary at residential premises, which dropped by 3,520 incidents, from 38,151 in Q2 of 2023/2024 to 34,631 in Q2 of 2024/2025. This suggests some success in efforts to curb property crimes, particularly in residential areas.

The report also highlighted other serious crimes. Theft not mentioned elsewhere showed a decrease, with 61,079 incidents in Q2 of 2024/2025, compared to 67,632 in 2023/2024. Shoplifting also saw a decline, dropping from 14,016 incidents in 2023/2024 to 11,056 in 2024/2025. However, commercial crime, which was already noted as increasing, rose significantly, with 36,300 incidents in 2024/2025, up from 30,630 in 2023/2024.

The crime statistics for Q2 of 2024/2025 show a mixed picture. While there are notable reductions in certain crime categories, such as carjackings, truck hijackings, and residential burglaries, the rise in commercial crime and kidnapping is concerning. These trends highlight the complex nature of crime in South Africa and emphasise the need for continued vigilance to address these challenges.