Increases in attempted murder, common robbery and motor vehicle theft featured in Sophiatown, Brixton and Linden following the release of police crime statistics for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year.

Sophiatown Police Station ranked 18th nationally and eighth in Gauteng for attempted murder. The precinct recorded 42 cases between April and June, compared with 37 during the corresponding period in 2025 – an increase of five cases.

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Brixton Police Station featured among the country’s top 30 stations for common robbery, ranking 25th nationally and 11th provincially. The station recorded 57 common robberies, up from 54 during the same quarter last year, representing an increase of 5.6%.

Linden Police Station also appeared in the national rankings, placing 18th nationally and 13th in Gauteng for theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles. The precinct recorded 64 cases during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, compared with 53 during the same period last year – an increase of 11 cases, or 20.8%.

The figures form part of SAPS quarterly crime statistics, which identify the country’s top 30 police stations in specific crime categories. The latest statistics indicate that violent crime, robbery and vehicle theft continue to place pressure on several Johannesburg policing precincts, with Sophiatown, Brixton and Linden remaining among the country’s highest-ranked stations for these offences.

Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia said the first-quarter crime statistics showed progress in several key crime categories nationally, but warned there could be no complacency as serious challenges remained. “The South Africa we seek is one where children can walk safely to school, where businesses can operate without fear, where women feel secure in their homes and public spaces, and where every community has confidence in those entrusted with their protection,” Cachalia said.

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With September marking police safety month, Cachalia also acknowledged the risks faced daily by police officers, saying policing remained one of the country’s most dangerous professions.

He stressed that improving public safety required co-operation between government, law enforcement, communities and civil society, adding that building a safer South Africa would require all hands on deck.

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