Nearly 7 000 people were murdered in the last three months of 2021 Police Minister Bheki Cele revealed on Friday.
Despite the lockdown, the number of murders increased. Men, women, and children were mercilessly slaughtered.
The police minister said 562 more people were killed in South Africa between October and December last year compared to the same period in 2020 – an 8.9% increase.
“Of the 6 859 people killed in the country, 902 of them were women and 352 were children,” revealed Cele.
The police minister said 232 of the overall murders were as a result of domestic violence.
As many as 27 police officers were among those murdered in the three months under review.
“The North West province recorded the highest increase of murder cases, up by 24.3% when compared to the corresponding period in the previous financial year,” said Cele.
However, the police minister said: “We have recorded significant decreases in most of the crime categories”.
He said common robbery, sexual assault, attempted sexual offences, and contact sexual offences have recorded “three to four-digit” decreases.
“Except for murder, which remains worryingly stubborn,” said Cele.
