Mpumalanga recorded an overall decline in serious crime during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, although increases in murder, rape and attempted murder remain areas of concern.
Between April and June 2026, the province recorded fewer community-reported serious crimes overall, while contact crime also declined.
| Crime category | Apr–Jun 2025 | Apr–Jun 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murder | 248 | 262 | +5.6% |
| Sexual offences | 826 | 831 | +0.6% |
| Attempted murder | 292 | 307 | +5.1% |
| Assault GBH | 2,581 | 2,559 | -0.9% |
| Common assault | 2,005 | 2,019 | +0.7% |
| Common robbery | 399 | 420 | +5.3% |
| Robbery with aggravating circumstances | 1,737 | 1,302 | -25.0% |
| Total contact crime | 8,088 | 7,700 | -4.8% |
Percentage changes compare April to June 2026 with the same period in 2025. A decrease reflects fewer recorded crime counts than a year earlier, but the current-quarter figures still show the actual scale of crime recorded during the period.
Robbery declines sharply
One of the strongest improvements was recorded in robbery with aggravating circumstances, which fell by 25% to 1,302 recorded counts. Business burglary also decreased by 15.7%.
MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Jackie Macie acknowledged the improvements, but said the province could not focus only on categories where crime had declined.
“However, we cannot celebrate selectively. The increases in murder, rape, attempted murder and common robbery are serious pressure points.” Macie said.
Photo: MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Jackie Macie.
Murder and rape rise
Murder increased from 248 to 262 recorded counts, while attempted murder rose from 292 to 307.
Reported rape increased by 4.5% to 701 counts, compared with 671 during the same period last year.
Addressing the increase in rape, Macie said:
“The increase in rape demands a response equal to the gravity of the crisis.”
The province has also highlighted gender-based violence, illegal mining, extortion and liquor-related violence as priority areas requiring continued attention.
Macie said that while reductions in contact crime and aggravated robbery showed progress, increases in murder, rape and attempted murder meant that progress remained fragile. He said the province now needed to protect the gains already recorded while focusing interventions on crimes that cause the greatest harm to individuals, families and communities