Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Phumelele Makoba, released the first quarter crime statistics for KZN on Friday.

In her opening remarks, Makoba said police are duty-bound to tell residents the full picture regarding crime in their communities so they can be aware of their surroundings and become actively involved in the fight against crime.

“To win the war against organised criminals, we need the strong participation of community members in the fight against crime,” she said.

According to Makoba, KZN has recorded decreases in cases of murder, rape, robbery with aggravating circumstances, common robbery and sexual offences.

Murder cases increase in Vryheid despite a downward trend in KZN

Murder cases recorded a decrease of 20 (1.7%) compared to the same period last year.

Inanda Police Station recorded the biggest decrease this quarter with 15 (19.2%) less murders recorded.

Umlazi and Esikhaleni police stations also showed improvements, recording a decrease of six and five murder cases respectively.

While Makoba applauded the work being done by police to keep residents safe, she maintained that the number of people being killed in KZN remains too high.

From April to June this year, 1179 people were killed in KZN.

“We cannot normalise this and be happy that the number of murder cases has gone down,” she said.

According to Makoba, 124 murders and 422 attempted murders followed arguments, misunderstandings, road rage and provocation.

“Our communities and public roads are turning into anger-charged societies where any argument or misunderstanding can turn violent and at worst, fatal,” warned Makoba.

“Some of these murders could have been prevented if people were patient with each other and willing to seek amicable solutions to their misunderstandings.

“Other murders took place as a result of retaliation, revenge, punishment, vigilantism or mob justice, robbery, gang-related violence, taxi violence, intervention in arguments, hijackings and during the commission of other crimes.

“Compassion for a fellow human being could have prevented such murders,” said Makoba, expressing concern about the increase in the number of murder cases at Cato Manor, where 20 more murders were recorded.

Ntuzuma recorded an increase of 12 murder cases, Empangeni recorded 11 more murders, Plessislaer recorded an increase of eight murder cases, and Vryheid recorded seven more murder cases than the same period last year.

“In most of these murders, a firearm was the weapon of choice for the perpetrators. Community members know people with illegal firearms, but some of them choose to keep quiet.

“Let us expose criminals so that our communities can be safe,” urged Makoba.

Increase in rape cases in Dannhauser draws commissioner’s attention

“Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a thorn in the flesh of police officers and law-abiding citizens alike,” said Makoba. “The numbers show that rape has gone down by 1.3% with a reduction of 24 cases.

However, this cannot be seen as an achievement when 1820 women were raped in KZN between April and June 2026.”

She continued, “The challenge is that the crime of rape either happens between people who know each other or at places which are almost impossible for police officers to prevent the crime.”

According to Makoba, 846 rapes cases were reported to have occurred at the residences of either the perpetrator or the victim, while 266 rape cases happened at public places such as recreational centres, parking lots, streets and abandoned buildings.

KwaDukuza Police Station reported 21 fewer cases, followed by Mountain Rise Police Station, which recorded 13 fewer cases.

Pongola, Empangeni and Plessislaer police stations recorded a decrease of rape cases by 10 cases each.

Inanda was named the ‘rape hotspot’ of this quarter, with an increase of 31.6%, recording 24 more rape cases than the same period last year.

Madadeni SAPS recorded an increase of 15 rape cases, KwaMakhutha SAPS increased by 13 cases, Pietermaritzburg SAPS recorded an increase of 12 rape cases, Ntuzuma SAPS went up with 11 rape cases, followed by SAPS Jozini and Sydenham, which recorded an increase by 10 cases each.

“Our attention is also on Dannhauser, which recorded nine more rape cases,” said Makoba.

46 deaths emanate from domestic violence

“Domestic violence-related cases have once again been flagged as a major concern in our province. In the period under review, 32 females and 14 males died as a result of domestic-related feuds or altercations,” Makoba reported.

The province has recorded 115 attempted murder cases related to domestic violence, in which 71 of the victims were females and 44 were males.

Domestic-related feuds often lead to the destruction of property, and KZN has registered 881 cases of malicious damage to property emanating from domestic violence.

“We are calling for families to return to the traditional ways of resolving domestic conflicts. No amount of violence can solve any problem. Instead, the concerned parties risk being arrested,” warned Makoba.

KZN recorded 9282 cases of assault (for both assault common and assault GBH), which is an increase of 8.3%.

4011 of those cases were domestic violence-related.

Fewer stock theft cases in Gluckstad and Ladysmith

All property crimes – such as burglaries in residential and non-residential areas, as well as stock theft – saw a reduction.

The police stations that showed improvements in the fight against stock theft are Gluckstad, which recorded a decrease of 29 cases, and Ladysmith, reduced by 20 cases.

Police stations such as Impendle, Hlobane, Amangwe, Upper Tugela, Nongoma, Bergville and Dannhauser recorded decreases of between 10 and 18 cases.

“Our stock theft officers will intensify operations at Taylor’s Halt, Inanda, Ingwavuma and Babanango police stations, which recorded an increase of between 11 and 19 stock theft cases,” said Makoba.

“The encouraging reduction of crime did not happen on its own.

“Police officers in KwaZulu-Natal are hard at work protecting the residents and their property.”
48 officers dismissed / dishonourably discharged

From January, 112,397 suspects were arrested for different crimes during Operation Shanela and other operations, as well as day-to-day policing.

In the same period, KZN police recovered 2487 firearms and 29,353 rounds of ammunition of various calibres.

“With firearms being the weapon of choice during the commission of serious and violent crimes in our province, the recovery of one firearm prevents many robberies and murders,” said Makoba.

“The success that police continue to achieve did not come without any challenges.

“Although we did not lose any police officer in the line of duty during the 2025/2026 financial year, we lost 15 police officers off duty.

“In most cases, off-duty police officers are targeted because of police-related matters.”

She added that KZN lost 48 police officers through dismissals and dishonourable discharge.

“We are doing the best we can to get rid of all disgraceful police officers who involve themselves in corruption and other criminal activities. We will continue to expose corrupt police officers so that your beloved police service can be cleansed from within.”

Police who show political favouritism while on duty will face disciplinary action

“We are just over a month away from the 2026 Local Government Elections and KwaZulu-Natal is known to be a politically charged environment,” Makoba concluded.

“Police will be out in full force to create a safe environment for politicians and political parties to campaign freely.

“We are urging political parties to be tolerant of each other and compete without violence. Do not eliminate competition by killing each other and do not intimidate one another to gain the upper hand.

“As it has become a norm during massive events like the elections, police will deploy sufficient resources to create safer communities in which residents of KwaZulu-Natal will cast their votes safely, freely and peacefully.

“Police are apolitical and we shall never favour any party or independent candidate over the other.

“If you see a police officer taking sides and he or she is on duty, report that person and internal disciplinary processes will deal with them decisively.”

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