Crime statistics reveal a mixed bag for KwaZulu-Natal: significant decreases in most categories but a worrying rise in sexual offences.
Image: Leon Lestrade/ Independent Newspapers
KwaZulu-Natal has seen a mixed bag of crime statistics for the third quarter (October to December 2025) period, with significant decreases reported across most categories of contact and property-related crimes. However, there is a worrying increase in certain crimes, most notably a surge in sexual offences.
Presenting the statistics at last week’s Provincial Council Against Crime, Brigadier Willem du Toit of the Crime Registrar, said that KZN had a 7% decrease in contact crimes.
“The only crime that we had a problem with was sexual offences, which were mostly due to rape cases and attempted sexual offences that increased. Otherwise, our murders decreased by 13%, attempted murders decreased by 4.9%, assault GBH (assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm) decreased by 7.8%, common assault had a 2.7% decrease, common robbery dropped by 14.3%, and robbery aggravated declined by 12.3%,” Du Toit said.
He said trio crimes (carjacking, robbery at residential premises and robbery at non-residential premises) had significant decreases.
Additionally, Du Toit said that cash-in-transit robberies had dropped from eight cases to two and truck hijackings also declined.
Looking at contact-related crimes (arson and malicious damage to property), Du Toit said KZN had an 8% decline.
He said property-related crimes (burglary at non-residential premises, burglary at residential premises, theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle, theft out of or from motor vehicle and stock theft) had a 9.7% decline.
“Other serious crimes recorded a decline of 6.5%. The only problematic category is commercial crime, which has an upward trend with 3.6%,” Du Toit said.
“Looking at crimes depending on SAPS for detection, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, we had an increase of 174 cases, drug-related crimes, also increased by 16.8% and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, increased by a massive 86.1%.”
Du Toit said the killing of police officers is still a problem in the province, increasing from two cases in the previous reporting period to seven cases currently. All seven police officers were off-duty when they were killed.
Zooming into rape cases, Du Toit said that eThekwini had the highest total contribution with 31.2%.
“Inanda nationally is number one (rape cases), increasing by 14.3%. Plessislaer is still a problem in a lot of our contact times. uMlazi is number four nationally, although they had a decrease,” Du Toit said.
He said most rape cases happen indoors, and normal police activities and crime prevention activities have little effect on these types of cases.
thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za