11/05/2026
The latest data from the South African Police Service (SAPS) shows us a critical distinction that not all crime categories are moving in the same direction. Let’s have a look at their trends.
Contact crimes remain the primary concern; violent offences, including murder, attempted murder, assault (GBH), robbery, and sexual offences, have shown an upward trajectory since 2019/2020. Murder alone has risen from approximately 21,000 cases to over 27,000 in 2023/2024.
Property-related crime presents a mixed picture; residential burglary has gradually declined from previous peaks yet still exceeds 210,000 reported cases annually. Vehicle theft and business burglaries continue to fluctuate, indicating inconsistent pressure points rather than a clear trend.
Drug-related crime is increasing, but with context; reported cases have gone over 230,000 annually. This rise is largely attributed to improved detection through intelligence-led policing, rather than a direct one-to-one increase in underlying activity.
Carjacking remains a popular, high-impact threat. Incidents have climbed beyond 22,000 cases, with concentration in key economic places such as Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Increasingly, this crime category reflects organised, logistics-driven operations targeting high-volume vehicle brands.
A sad reality shows South Africa recording an average of 76 murders per day approximately three every hour. This underscores the scale and urgency of coordinated risk mitigation efforts.
F.I.R.M was established in response to this very reality bringing together private sector stakeholders and law enforcement to collaboratively address crime, reduce risk, and contribute toward safer communities.
Source: SAPS Annual Crime Statistics 2023/2024/2025