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Police blue light symbolising law enforcement presence.
The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) MP Lisa‐Maré Schickerling, says the third quarter crime statistics of the financial year 2025/2026 released, on Friday by Police Minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia are indicative of the ongoing increase in crime in the country.
[LISTEN] Acting police minister concerned by ‘unacceptably high crime stats’
🔗https://t.co/pLYaJAQeyy#TheWeekendView #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/4Flp5bQxgP
— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) February 21, 2026
Schickerling says this despite the recorded 8.7% decrease in murders.
RELATED VIDEO | Crime Stats | Most violent crimes remain at high levels: Mike Bolhuis reacts:
“These numbers confirm the sustain crime violent crises. Communities are only safe when the arrests lead to the actual convictions and real sentences. We need conviction driven, prosecution led investigations and properly functioning forensic services,” she adds.
Rise Mzansi has weighed-in on the release of the crime statistics. The statistics showed a slight decrease in violent crimes including murder.
📊 Crime Stats Update | Q3 2025/26
Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, , presented the South African Police Service third-quarter crime statistics in Pretoria this afternoon, outlining trends for October to December 2025.#CrimeStats #SAPS #GovZAUpdates @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/NGbSPNfzRe
— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) February 20, 2026
Party MP, Makashule Gana says the figures are the reflection of the consistent loses of many lives in the country.
“What the crime statistics that have been released show is that we continue to lose far too many lives, in South Africa. As Rise Mzansi, we are profoundly concerned about these numbers that have been released and we know that the executive seeks to frame the figures as progress. The reality for many South Africans is one of persistent fear and institutional abandonment,” says Gana.
Meanwhile, The African national Congress (ANC) in Parliament says it welcomes the reduction in crime such as murder in third quarter of the financial year 2025/2026.
Firoz says they indicate a decrease in violent crime categories, but remain unacceptably high.
“As the ANC, we welcome the reported decrease in some serious crimes especially the drop in the murder rate. Any reduction in violent crimes is important and shows that the work of the South African Police Service (SAPS) together with communities is making a difference,” says ANC MP, Inathi Mbiyo.
VIDEO | SA Police release third quarter crime statistics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w29VWzCip9U
