Latest crime data shows surge in rapes, murder, assaults in South Africa
Nearly 10,000 rape cases and more than 6,100 murders were reported in South Africa between July and September this year, according to official data released on Friday.
The number of rape cases stood at 9,556 – an increase of 634, or 7.1%, from the third quarter of 2020 – while murders were up by 1,056, or 20.7%, to 6,163, the country’s latest crime statistics showed.
There were also 72,762 cases of assault in South Africa in the third quarter of 2021.
“This data proves again that South Africa is a very violent country,” Police Minister Bheki Cele said at a news briefing.
He termed the soaring rape figures “deeply disturbing” and a “disgrace.”
“The majority of the rape victims are women and those most vulnerable in our society. A sample of 6,144 rape cases revealed that 3,951 took place at either the home of the victim or the rapist,” he said.
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