THE latest crime statistics from the South African Police Service (SAPS) for the third quarter of the 2024/25 financial year – covering October to December 2024 – paint a grim picture of violent crime in the Free State.
In just three months, the province recorded a staggering 263 murders, averaging 2.8 murders per day.
While the murder rate saw a slight decline of 2.2 percent compared to the same period last year, it remains one of the highest per capita murder rates in the country, with 8.9 murders per 100 000 people.
The Free State’s violent crime crisis is further underscored by concerning increases in sexual offences and assault cases.
The province recorded a total of 25 460 cases of community-reported serious crimes during this three-month period, reflecting a 3.0 percent decrease from the previous quarter.
However, violent crimes – particularly sexual offences and assault – have risen, raising alarm among authorities and communities alike.
The Free State recorded 1 073 cases of sexual offences, marking a slight increase of 0.4 percent.
This includes 82 rape cases reported in Bloemspruit, one of the province’s worst-hit areas for sexual violence.
Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) also saw a significant increase, reaching 4 116 cases – a 1.5 percent rise from the previous year.
The majority of these assaults were linked to domestic violence, with SAPS reporting 828 cases of GBH and 1 750 cases of common assault related to domestic disputes.
These figures reflect a continued breakdown in family structures, exacerbated by socio-economic hardships and substance abuse.
The crime report identifies Park Road, Bloemspruit, and Thabong as key hotspots for violent crime in the Free State.
These areas recorded some of the highest incidences of murder, assault and sexual offences in the province.
Park Road police station, located in Bloemfontein, remains the worst affected, ranking among the top 10 stations nationwide for community-reported crimes.
Thabong has also seen an increase in attempted murder cases, adding to concerns over lawlessness in the province’s mining towns.
Despite the slight decline in the murder rate, the numbers remain alarming.
A total of 263 murders were recorded in just three months, averaging 2.8 murders per day.
With a population of just under three million, this remains one of the highest per capita murder rates in the country.
The murder ratio for the Free State is currently 8.9 per 100 000 people – lower than provinces like Eastern Cape (19.6) and Western Cape (16.0), but still a serious concern.
Attempted murder saw a sharp rise of 9.3 percent, with 610 reported cases compared to 558 in the same period last year.
The increase is particularly alarming in areas such as Zamdela and Bothaville, which have seen spikes in gun-related violence.
The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) has voiced strong concerns over the rising violent crime in the Free State, particularly the surge in sexual offences and assaults.
DA Free State leader and community safety spokesperson Roy Jankielsohn condemned the crime wave.
“Attempted murder, sexual offences, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and common assault have all increased,” he said.
“While the murder rate dropped by 2.2 percent in the last quarter, 263 people were still murdered in just three months – that’s 2.8 murders per day.
“For a province with only 2.9 million people, this remains alarmingly high.”
Jankielsohn also highlighted the troubling statistics on domestic violence, pointing out that domestic-related crimes accounted for 30 murders, 82 attempted murders, 117 rapes, 828 assaults with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and 1 750 common assaults.
“Domestic violence is a clear indication of the breakdown of family values in our society, exacerbated by deteriorating socio-economic circumstances, drug abuse and alcohol addiction,” he stated.
The DA also expressed concern over underreported crimes such as stock theft.
While SAPS statistics claim a 22.5 percent decline in stock theft, Jankielsohn argued that evidence on the ground suggests otherwise.
“Underreporting is a major issue due to slow police response, lack of resources for stock theft units, poor investigations and a dismal conviction rate for perpetrators,” he said.
Criticising the justice system, he added: “Failures in our criminal justice system make victims suffer twice – first from the crime itself and then from a broken system that cannot deliver justice.
“The DA in the Free State remains convinced that the best deterrent to criminals is knowing that if they commit crimes, they will be detected, prosecuted and punished.”
Although the Free State is not the most crime-ridden province in absolute terms, its per capita crime rates remain among the highest.
Gauteng leads in overall crime numbers, with 109 034 serious crimes recorded in the same period, while KwaZulu-Natal remains the second most affected province.
However, the Free State’s rates of murder and assault per 100 000 people are higher than those of provinces with larger populations, pointing to a more concentrated crime crisis. – Staff Reporter