The South African Police Service (SAPS) released the third quarter crime statistics on 21 February 2025, covering the period from 1 October 2024 to 31 December 2024. This release forms part of the routine and transparent practice of making crime statistics available to the public on a quarterly basis, as endorsed by Cabinet. The statistics reflect a decline in a number of crime categories, although certain crimes, such as assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, malicious damage to property, and possession of illegal firearms and ammunition, have increased.
Afriforum has disputed the crime statistics, specifically those relating to farm murders. In response to the claims made by Afriforum, the Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu expressed these sentiments:
“Following the release of the third quarter crime stats, people from different walks of life made comments, which we appreciate and overall, we derive inspiration and courage from comments made and we commit that we will relentlessly keep our foot on the pedal against crime.
One of the comments came from Afriforum as they were preparing for their trip to America; they make a claim that they are disputing the released quarterly crime statistics, stating that a total of five farm owners had been murdered during this period. One of the decent things that any organisation worth its salt or any decent individual would do, is to put their case on the table so that everybody can appreciate your facts and thoughts, but most importantly, the basis for argument and dispute in this instance.
Crime statistics in particular are about the rate of crime in South Africa and that includes murder, which is the loss of life to those who are directly affected, and it is a grave matter that we treat with sanctity and respect – not for posturing of whatever kind, whether political or otherwise, or for any mileage as government. Any mention of dispute is therefore treated by us in a very serious light.
We challenge Afriforum, as soon as they land back in South Africa, to provide us with evidence of their mentioned incidents, which they claim are well documented. We appeal to the South African public to desist from assumptions that belong to the past, where farm murders are the same as murders of white farmers.
Afriforum’s dispute smirks of their feeling to take an ‘Orwellian’ approach to this subject, wherein there must always be a picture of high numbers of murders of white farmers, as was the practice in the past.
We want to take this opportunity to reiterate that our statistics show that one farmer, who happens to be white, was murdered in the third quarter in South Africa; anybody who disputes this is welcome to put facts on the table for the purposes of correct records.”
Enquiries:
Ministry Spokesperson,
Kamogelo Mogotsi
Cell: 076 523 0085
