Alarming surge in mass murders in SA

4 April 2023

Incidents of mass murder in South Africa have increased sharply. From 1 April 2019 to 30 December 2022, 5 709 people were murdered in a total of 2 446 incidents in the country.

The Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, released these figures in response to a parliamentary question by Dr Pieter Groenewald, leader of the FF Plus. (Question and reply attached herewith.)

Apart from the surging murder rate, it is also alarming that although 1 511 suspects were arrested and appeared in court in relation to the murders, a mere 103 – just 6,8% – were convicted.

In other words, of the 1 511 individuals who were arrested, 1 408 were acquitted. It points to inadequate detective work, which must be explained.

A mass murder is defined as a single incident in which two or more people are murdered.

Between the financial years of 2019/20 – 2021/22, these incidents increased from 438 incidents and 1 009 deaths in 2019/20 to 769 incidents and 1 791 deaths in 2021/22.

Most incidents and deaths occurred in KwaZulu-Natal, with Gauteng following closely.

With a murder rate five times the world average (7/100 000, and South Africa: 36/100 000), the prevalence of mass murder and other serious crimes in South Africa, the problems in the police force, and the inability to successfully prosecute criminals, it is clear that government is failing to protect the country's people against criminals.

The latest crime statistics prove that crime is completely out of control, and Minister Cele must be held accountable for that.

Issued by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus leader, 4 April 2023