Crime stats: These are provinces with the highest murder, rape and carjackings in SA

Crime stats: Gauteng records most murders and carjackings in South Africa.

South Africa's latest quarterly crime statistics have revealed that Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape continue to bear the brunt of the country's most serious violent crimes, with Gauteng recording the highest number of murders and carjackings, while KwaZulu-Natal reported the most rape cases.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) released its crime statistics for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, covering crimes reported between April and June 2026.

While murders, rapes and carjackings all declined nationally compared with the same period last year, thousands of South Africans continued to fall victim to violent crime.

Although the national murder count fell by 5.9%, from 5,770 to 5,427 cases, Gauteng recorded the highest number of murders in the country with 1,276 cases during the three-month period.