84 people murdered every day in South Africa- these are the most dangerous areas
South Africa has recorded an increase in violent crime by the end of 2023, with several police stations across the country recording a high number of murders.
Police Minister Bheki Cele said that murders in the third quarter of the 2023/24 year (October to December 2023) increased by 2.1%, leading to 155 more murders compared to Q3 2022/23.
The minister said that arguments, misunderstanding and road rage were the main reasons for the killings.
“It is also concerning that of the 268 gang-related murders, 250 of these murders were reported in the Western Cape,” Cele said.
431 murders were linked to vigilantism and mob justice attacks, Gauteng registered the highest with 84, followed by the Eastern Cape with 80 and KwaZulu-Natal with 78.
The SAPS recorded a total of 7,710 murders over the period, meaning an average of 84 people were murdered every day in Q3.
The third quarter data gives the final tally for the 2023 calendar year as well, with the country ultimately recording 27,368 murders between January and December 2023 – an average of 75 murders per day.
The minister said that police stations that are hotspots for more murders will be sent additional resources to try and combat the rising crime levels.
Looking at other violent crimes over the third quarter, attempted murder increased by 13.0% from the prior period – rising from 7,016 to 7,927.
Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily (5.8%), common assault (0.4%), common robbery (3.9%) and robbery with aggravating circumstances (6.6%) all increased.
Overall, contact crime (crimes against the person) increased by 3.8% compared to the prior period.
Sexual offences (-11.0%), including rape (-1.7%), decreased compared to the prior period. That said, attempted sexual offences increased by 1.3%. Concerningly, the majority of rapes took place at the victim’s place of residence.
Cash-in-transit robberies also dropped, and 46 CITs took place – 11 less than the prior period.
However, carjackings also increased by 6.5% from 5,608 to 5,973.
| Crime | Oct to Dec 2022 | Oct to Dec 2023 | % Change |
| Bank Robbery | 1 | 2 | +100% |
| Attempted Murder | 7 016 | 7 927 | +13% |
| Robbery with aggravating circumstances | 37 829 | 40 331 | +6.6% |
| Carjacking | 5 608 | 5 973 | +6.5% |
| Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily | 50 582 | 53 513 | +5.8% |
| Common Robbery | 12 752 | 13 243 | +3.9% |
| Contact crime (Against the person) | 184 020 | 190 973 | +3.9% |
| Murder | 7 555 | 7 710 | +2.1% |
| Robbery at Residential Premises | 6 256 | 6 380 | +1.7% |
| Attempted Sexual Offences | 763 | 773 | +1.3% |
| Common Assault | 52 741 | 52 965 | +0.4% |
| Sexual Offences | 15 545 | 15 284 | -1,7% |
| Rape | 12 419 | 12 211 | –1,7% |
| Sexual assault | 2 154 | 2 114 | -1,9% |
| Truck hijacking | 492 | 480 | -2,4% |
| Robbery at non-residential premises | 4 983 | 4 825 | -3,2% |
| Contact sexual offences | 209 | 186 | -11,0% |
| Robbery of cash in transit | 57 | 46 | -19.3% |
Murder hotspots
The Eastern Cape (-2.7%), Free State (-2.2%) and KwaZulu-Natal (-9.4%) all saw a decline in the number of murders, while the Northern Cape saw no year-on-year change and remains the province with the fewest cases.
The five other provinces all saw an increase, with Mpumlanaga seeing a massive 41.6% increase from the prior year. The North-West saw an 11.7%, with Limpop not far behind on a 9.5% increase.
The Western Cape also saw an 8.9% increase, and the country’s richest province, Gauteng, saw a 3.8% increase.
More specifically, despite the overall drop in KZN, Inanda in eThekwini recorded the most murders at 93 over the three months.
Cape Town’s Mfuleni (80), Gugulethu (73), Nyanga (73). Khayelitsha (70) and Delft (68) all followed.
The most dangerous area in Johannesburg and the seventh overall is around Jeppe, with 68 murders.
Notably, all ten of the most dangerous areas are found within South Africa’s three biggest cities: Johannesburg, Cape Town and eThekwini:
| Station | Oct to Dec 2022 | Oct to Dec 2023 | Change (Counts) |
| Inanda, eThekwini | 87 | 93 | 6 |
| Mfuleni, Cape Town | 89 | 80 | -9 |
| Gugulethu, Cape Town | 50 | 73 | 23 |
| Nyanga, Cape Town | 68 | 73 | 5 |
| Khayelitsha, Cape Town | 40 | 70 | 30 |
| Delft, Cape Town | 86 | 68 | –18 |
| Jeppe, Johannesburg | 42 | 66 | 24 |
| Harare, Cape Town | 58 | 60 | 2 |
| Umlazi, eThekwini | 51 | 59 | 8 |
| Kwamashu East, eThekwini | 56 | 52 | -4 |
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