SAPS quarterly crime stats highlight Midrand concerns
The 2026 fourth quarter crime statistics from the Midrand and Ivory Park police stations reveal a mixed trend across Midrand and Ivory Park, with decreases in murder and carjacking cases but increases in rape, property-related crimes, and drunk driving cases.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has released its fourth quarter crime statistics for the 2025/26 financial year, covering the period between January and March 2026.
The quarterly crime statistics play an important role in shaping policy development and planning within South Africa’s criminal justice system.
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The report also ranks police stations according to crime levels in their policing areas, with stations at the top recording the highest levels of criminal activity.
Among police stations in the Midrand area, both Ivory Park and Midrand police stations featured prominently across several crime categories, with some crimes showing increases while others declined compared to the same period last year.
Ivory Park recorded a notable decrease in murder cases, dropping from 42 cases in 2025 to 29 cases in 2026, a reduction of 13 cases.
In property-related crimes, which involve the theft of property without the owner’s permission and usually in their absence, Midrand recorded an increase from 349 reported cases in 2025 to 382 cases this year.
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Rape cases in Midrand also increased, rising by seven cases from 38 in 2025 to 45 in 2026. However, kidnapping cases in Midrand declined slightly, decreasing from 47 cases last year to 43 this year.
Both Ivory Park and Midrand saw decreases in carjacking incidents. Ivory Park recorded 47 fewer cases compared to last year’s total of 67, while Midrand saw a decrease of 28 cases from the 40 incidents reported in 2025.
Other serious crimes in Midrand, including shoplifting, increased by 10.8%, rising from 83 reported cases in 2025 to 92 this year.
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Commercial crimes, however, showed a significant decline of 20.4%, dropping from 564 cases last year to 449 in 2026.
Meanwhile, cases involving motorists driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs increased in Midrand, with reported incidents rising from 177 in 2025 to 184 this year.
The Midrand Reporter continues to keep residents in all regions of Midrand aware of and up to speed on local crime trends.
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