Limpopo records 13% fewer murders

Limpopo has recorded a 13% drop in murder cases, with the province having the lowest murder rate in the country during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year.

Limpopo police commissioner Lt-Gen Jan Petrus Scheepers and transport and community safety MEC Violet Mathye released the province’s first quarter crime statistics of 2026/2027.

Scheepers said Limpopo had recorded about three murders for every 100,000 people, the lowest murder rate among all provinces in the country.

“Reduction on paper does not automatically mean every resident feels safer,” he said, pledging police would not become complacent.

Scheepers said the province saw a 3% decrease in the overall category of 17 community-reported serious crimes.

Contact crimes decreased by 4.5%, contact-related crimes decreased by 1.1% and property-related crimes fell by 8.9%.

Common robbery fell by 12.8%, while robbery with aggravating circumstances dropped by 23.9%.

Despite the overall decline, there are concerns about increases in attempted murder and common assault.

Scheepers said many violent incidents were linked to interpersonal conflict, substance abuse and domestic disputes.

During the quarter, police arrested 111 suspects for murder, 87 for attempted murder, 230 for rape, 1,734 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and 1,236 for common assault.

Scheepers said sexual offences often happened in domestic and family settings, where victims knew their alleged perpetrators.

He called on families, schools, traditional leaders and communities to recognise warning signs and report abuse to officials.

Robbery at residential premises decreased by 33.3%, while robbery at non-residential premises dropped by 7.5%. Carjacking decreased by 38 cases.

Police made 65 arrests for house robbery, 40 for business robbery, 207 for burglary at residential premises and 118 for burglary at business premises.