CAPE TOWN – Murder in the Western Cape decreased by 3.4% in the latest quarter, representing 41 fewer lives lost, though the province recorded 1 157 murders and maintains the second highest murder rate in the country at 15.2 murders per 100,000 people.
“While any decrease is encouraging, 1 157 murders in a single quarter is still far too high,” said Western Cape minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais when the third quarter crime statistics were released on Tuesday.
Epicentre of gang-related violence
At 15.2 murders per 100 000 people, the province have the second highest murder rate in the country.
Furthermore, the Western Cape continues to dominate gang-related violence nationally, with 257 of the country’s 276 gang-related murders occurring in the province. Gang-related attempted murders were similarly concentrated, with 291 of 320 national cases recorded locally.
“Let us speak frankly: the Western Cape remains the epicentre of gang-related violence in South Africa,” Marais stated. “That means roughly one in four murders and attempted murders in the Western Cape is gang related.”
Firearms remained the leading weapon in murders, used in 644 killings and 713 attempted murders during the reporting period. Precincts including Mfuleni, Nyanga, Delft and Gugulethu continue to feature prominently on the national top 15 murder stations list.
However, areas with Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) deployments showed greater improvement, with murders decreasing 3.7% from 323 to 311 cases. Delft recorded a 19.4% decrease, Gugulethu 13.3%, and Mitchells Plain achieved a 22% reduction.
“This clearly indicates that additional boots on the ground, integrated deployments and focused operations do make a measurable difference,” Marais said. “It confirms what we have long maintained: resource allocation matters. Visible policing matters. Strategic partnerships matter.”
