Top three SA murder spots

2003-09-22 16:55

Cape town - Almost two-thirds of all murders committed in South Africa last year occurred in only one-third of the country's nine provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and the Western Cape.

According to the SA Police Service's latest annual report, released on Monday, the total number of murders decreased marginally, by 1.3%, between 2001/02 and 2002/03.

The report covers the financial year April 1 2002, to March 31 this year.

According to the document, which gives no absolute figures, only ratios, there were 47.4 murders per 100 000 of the country's population during 2002/03, compared to 48.0 per 100 000 during 2001/02.

"A majority of 65% of all murders occurred in only three provinces, namely KwaZulu-Natal (25%), Gauteng (23%) and the Western Cape (17%)," it states.

Further, more than half of all murders were committed in 11 of South Africa's 43 policing areas.

Two of Cape Town's policing districts top this list, with the city's Eastern Metropole recording 6.0% of the total number of murders committed, and its Western Metropole not far behind with 5.6%.

The report also notes a "strong seasonal trend" for murders.

"Its occurrence is high in summer (Christmas season) and low in winter (June-July).

"If analysed according to weekdays, it peaks during weekends, especially Friday and Saturday nights," it says.

It also cites Medical Research Council and Institute for Security Studies findings that half of those arrested for murder "tested positive for the use of one or a combination of six drugs within 48 hours prior to arrest.

"This clearly points to a relationship between drugs and crime," the report says.

It also finds that 54% of murder victims died as a result of injuries caused by firearms.

Sharp instruments killed 28% of victims, "blunt objects" a further 13%, 2% were strangled and 1% died from burn wounds.

"The remaining 2% were killed in various other ways," the report says.

- SAPA