Pretoria: There has been a notable reduction in some crime categories, according to the crime statistics for Quarter 1 and 2 released on Friday. The statistics, covering the period from April to September, highlight changes in various crime rates across the country.

According to South African Government News Agency, the data indicates significant decreases in several areas of crime. Categories that saw reductions include murder, assault, common robbery with aggravating circumstances, contact crime, rape, and sexual assault. Additionally, there were declines in carjacking, robbery at residential premises, robbery at non-residential premises, and cash-in-transit heists.

In Pretoria, Crime Registrar Major-General Norman Sekhukhune presented the statistics, noting increases in some areas such as attempted murder, attempted sexual assault, common assault, and contact sexual offences. Despite these increases, the overall trend in some of the most severe crime categories is downward.

The statistics reveal a reduction in murder cases from 6,545 in 2024 to 5,794 in 2025. Common assault cases decreased slightly from 42,721 in 2024 to 41,978 in 2025, marking a 0.7 percent reduction. Sexual assault cases also saw a 0.7 percent decrease, with 1,839 reported in 2024 and 1,827 in 2025.

Carjacking incidents reported a significant 12.3 percent reduction, falling from 5,447 cases in 2024 to 4,778 in 2025. Robbery at residential premises experienced a 14.5 percent decrease, with cases dropping from 5,967 in 2024 to 5,103 in 2025. Robbery at non-residential premises saw a 21.4 percent reduction, from 3,873 cases in 2024 to 3,044 in 2025. Cash-in-transit heists declined by 16 counts, from 40 cases in 2024 to 24 in 2025.

Between July and September 2024, the police recorded over 160,000 contact crimes, compared to 155,000 during the same period in 2025. The reduction in carjackings, residential robberies, and other crime categories reflects a positive trend in efforts to improve public safety.