Limpopo Crime Stats Show Sharp Drop in Murder but Alarming Rise in Sexual Offences for 2025
Limpopo Provincial Police Commissioner Thembi Hadebe has shared mixed news on the province’s crime trends for April to September 2025, with a welcome fall in violent crimes like murder but a worrying jump in sexual offences. During a briefing in Polokwane on Friday, Hadebe praised her team’s work in cutting down on killings and robberies, yet called for stronger action against gender-based violence that continues to harm communities. These figures give hope for safer streets but also highlight areas where more needs to be done to protect the vulnerable, especially women and children.
The stats cover the first two quarters of the 2025/2026 financial year, showing how police efforts are paying off in some spots while new challenges pop up in others. For families and locals dealing with daily fears, this report is a call to keep pushing for change through community watch and better support systems.
First Quarter Highlights: Declines Across Key Categories
From April to June 2025, Limpopo saw encouraging drops in several crime types. Contact crimes, which include attacks on people, went down overall. Property crimes like theft and break-ins also fell, along with commercial crimes such as fraud affecting businesses.
Sexual offences showed some improvement too, with rape cases decreasing by 3.8% and overall sexual crimes dropping by 6.0%. This suggests awareness drives and police focus might be starting to make a difference. Crimes spotted through police action rose by 9.8%, meaning officers are getting better at catching wrongdoers before things get worse.
Hadebe linked these wins to targeted operations and community partnerships, which helped bring down numbers in high-risk areas.
Second Quarter Shifts: Murder Down, but Sexual Crimes Spike
The trend continued into July to September 2025, with even bigger falls in violent acts. Murder rates plunged by 20%, giving relief to families who have lost loved ones to senseless killings. Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) and aggravated robbery decreased by 14.5%, showing fewer attacks and hold-ups.
Trio crimes – carjackings, home robberies and business break-ins – dropped sharply by 21.9%. Carjackings alone fell by 34 cases, a big step in making roads safer for drivers. These reductions point to effective policing, like more patrols and quick responses to tips.
But the good news came with a dark cloud: sexual offences jumped by 7.1%, following a national pattern that’s left many worried. “While we acknowledge the concerning 7.1% increase in sexual offences during the second quarter — a trend that mirrors national patterns—we remain steadfast in our commitment to address gender-based violence,” Hadebe said.
She stressed the need for everyone – from families to schools – to speak up and support victims, while police ramp up arrests and prevention work.
Domestic Violence Tragedy: Officers Lost in Heartbreaking Incident
Adding to the concerns, Hadebe shared a sad story from the period: a domestic violence case that ended with the deaths of two police officers. This highlights how violence behind closed doors can spill over, affecting even those sworn to protect us. It shows the complex side of fighting crime, where personal fights can turn deadly and stretch police resources.
Such events call for better help for families in crisis, like counselling and safe spaces, to stop things from getting worse.
National Context: Limpopo’s Trends Mirror Broader Shifts
These Limpopo figures fit into South Africa’s bigger crime picture for 2025. Nationally, murders dropped from 6,545 in the same period last year to 5,794, with common assault down by 0.7%. But some areas saw rises, underscoring uneven progress across provinces.
Limpopo stands out for feeling safer in daily life – a recent survey showed it B B by tops the list for people feeling okay walking alone day (97.2%) or night (64.2%). This could tie to lower violent crime rates, but the sexual offence spike warns against letting guard down.
Housebreaking remains a top worry for homes nationwide, including Limpopo, where thieves target valuables and cause lasting fear.
Police Response: Steadfast Commitment to Change
Hadebe vowed to keep the momentum, with plans for more operations against gender violence and support for victims. She called on communities to report crimes and work with officers, saying unity is key to lasting safety.
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