LIMPOPO – Giyani Police Station recorded a sharp increase in contact crimes during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, despite an overall decline in community-reported serious crimes in the Mopani District.

The latest Limpopo crime statistics, presented on Tuesday in Polokwane, covering the period from April to June 2026, show that Giyani recorded 213 contact crimes, compared with 171 during the same period last year.

This represents an increase of 42 cases, or 24.6%.

Giyani ranks among province’s worst stations

Contact crimes, also referred to as “crimes against the person,” include offences such as murder, sexual offences, attempted murder, assault and robbery.

The increase places Giyani among the province’s highest contributors to contact crime.

The station was ranked fifth among Limpopo’s 30 police stations with the highest number of reported contact crimes during the three months.

A closer look at the worst increases

The statistics also reveal worrying increases in some serious violent crimes in Giyani.

Murder cases rose from three between April and June 2025 to seven during the corresponding period this year.

Rape cases almost doubled, increasing from 17 to 31 cases, an increase of 14 incidents.

Giyani was ranked fifth among Limpopo police stations with the highest number of rape cases during the quarter.

Robbery at non-residential premises also increased from eight cases to 11, while robbery at residential premises rose marginally from eight to nine cases.

However, kidnapping cases declined from seven to five during the reporting period, while carjacking remained unchanged at one case.

Overall serious crime still declines

Despite the increase in violent crimes, the overall number of the 17 community-reported serious crimes at Giyani Police Station declined from 542 to 514 cases, representing a decrease of 5.2%.

The 17 community-reported serious crimes include a range of offences reported directly by members of the public.

Giyani nevertheless remained the highest contributor to these crimes in Mopani District and was ranked sixth among the 30 highest contributing police stations in the whole province.

Beyond Giyani, the numbers improve

Across Mopani District, the overall crime picture was more encouraging.

The district recorded 3 553 cases across 17 categories of community-reported serious crimes between April and June 2026, down by 354 cases (9.1%) from 3 907 during the same period last year.

Tzaneen recorded 444 cases, followed by Maake with 418 and Bolobedu with 389. Provincially, contact crimes declined by 4.5%, from 8 600 to 8 209 cases.

Murder fell by 13% and robbery with aggravating circumstances by 23.9%, although attempted murder rose by 11.5% and common assault by 5%.

While Mopani recorded an overall decline, Giyani’s sharp rise in contact crimes, particularly murder and rape, remains a major concern.