Sunday, 22 February 2026.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the release of the Third Quarter 2025/2026 Police Recorded Crime Statistics for the period October to December 2025. These statistics confirm that South Africa remains in a deep and structural crisis of violence, lawlessness, and organised criminality that continues to devastate working-class communities.

During this quarter, 6,351 people were murdered in South Africa. This represents a decrease of 602 cases compared to the same period last year, an 8.7% decline, however, even at 6,351 murders in three months, South Africa remains one of the most violent countries in the world. The national murder rate now stands at 10 murders per 100,000 people for the quarter, with provinces such as the Eastern Cape (19.2 per 100,000) and the Western Cape (15.2 per 100,000) recording alarmingly high ratios.

The provincial breakdown shows that Gauteng accounted for 1,536 murders, KwaZuluNatal 1,297, Eastern Cape 1,270, and the Western Cape 1,157. These four provinces alone account for the overwhelming majority of killings in the country. The concentration of murders in specific stations such as Mfuleni, Nyanga, Inanda and Delft confirms that violence is geographically entrenched in historically marginalised and impoverished communities.

The data further reveals that firearms remain the dominant weapon of choice in murder cases, accounting for 2,561 of the recorded killings. Knives and sharp instruments account for over 1,500 additional deaths. The continued dominance of firearms highlights the failure of the state to dismantle illegal gun supply chains and confront internal corruption that enables the circulation of weapons.

The crisis extends beyond murder. Attempted murder increased by 2.5%, rising to 7,858 cases during this quarter. Provinces such as Gauteng and the Northern Cape recorded notable increases. Firearms were again the leading instrument used in attempted murder cases, accounting for 3,483 incidents. Public spaces and residential premises dominate as primary scenes of violence, reflecting a society in which violence has become normalised.

Sexual violence remains a national shame as 14,547 sexual offences were reported, including 11,430 cases of rape during just three months. Although rape declined by 3.2% compared to the previous year, this still means that over 11,000 rape cases were officially recorded in a single quarter. The rape ratio per 100,000 people remains alarmingly high, particularly in provinces such as the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

The provincial data shows that KwaZulu-Natal recorded 2,299 rapes, Gauteng 2,140, and Eastern Cape 1,871. These figures confirm that sexual violence is increasingly widespread. The slight statistical decline does not reflect safety; it reflects marginal shifts within an ongoing epidemic. Additionally, sexual offences remain concentrated in the same high-crime stations that dominate other violent crime categories.

Assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm decreased by 7.5% to 50,253 cases, while common assault decreased to 53,539 cases. Yet combined, these figures indicate over 100,000 assault-related offences in just three months. This level of interpersonal violence reflects deep social fragmentation and unresolved structural inequality.

The so-called “TRIO crimes” — carjacking, residential robbery, and non-residential robbery — declined by 13.8% overall, yet still totalled 12,812 incidents. Carjackings alone accounted for 4,420 cases in three months, confirming that violent robbery remains a daily threat.

These statistics reveal several uncomfortable truths. First, although certain categories show percentage declines, the absolute numbers remain unacceptably high. Second, violence is concentrated in historically disadvantaged communities where poverty, unemployment and spatial apartheid persist. Third, firearms continue to drive lethal violence. Fourth, gang-related killings remain heavily concentrated in the Western Cape, yet there is no clearly articulated national anti-gang strategy with measurable targets and timelines.

South Africa recorded 385,936 community-reported serious crimes in just three months. This is a national crisis, and the EFF maintains that crime in South Africa cannot be divorced from structural economic conditions. Mass unemployment, deep inequality, substance abuse, collapsing public services and corruption create fertile ground for violence and criminal recruitment. Policing alone cannot resolve this crisis, yet policing itself remains weakened by corruption, poor intelligence coordination, and inadequate strategic planning against organised criminal networks.

The EFF will continue to demand transparency, accountability and a comprehensive national crime strategy that confronts both the symptoms and the structural roots of crime.

Until then, the modest statistical declines presented by government will remain meaningless in the face of continued bloodshed and fear experienced by our people.

ISSUED BY ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Sinawo Thambo (National Spokesperson) 072 629 7422

Thembi Msane (National Spokesperson) 061 467 8169

Andiswa Madikazi (Parliament Media Liason) 069 516 4924

Thato Lebyane (Media Inquiries) 078 563 1581