National Police Minister, General Bheki Cele on Friday, released the second quarter crime statistics from July 1 until September 2020.

During this time, the country moved from lockdown level 3 to lockdown levels 2 and 1.

Addressing the media, Cele said murder statistics have decreased by 6.2 percent and during the period of July and September 5, 107 people were murdered in South Africa, this number is 339 less than the same period last year.

Cele said 1 992 people were murdered in public spaces such as beaches, parks, streets or open fields, and over 900 people were murdered in their homes.

“Alarmingly, arguments and misunderstandings remain the main drivers of murder,” Cele said.

While gender-based violence (GBV) remained a heated topic in the country, Cele said there was been a 16.8 percent ‘dip’ in crimes such as rape and sexual assault.

Rape cases saw an 18.8 percent decrease and Cele labelled July, August and September as ‘dangerous months for thousands of women in this country’.

A total of 8 922 rape cases were reported, with 3 578 people reported to have been raped in either their homes or the homes of their rapists. The majority of rapes occurred against women.

Cele said over 1 000 of the rapes appeared in public places and the highest number of rapes in the country were reported in KwaZulu-Natal.

He said alcohol was involved in 829 assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm cases, 179 attempted murders and 747 rape cases.

He said over 1 000 incidents relating to murder, attempted murder, rape took place outside liquor stores, taverns, shebeens, bars and nightclubs.

“These figures make it impossible to deny the true effects of alcohol abuse.”

Stock theft has become a concern and Cele says it is ‘economic sabotage’ with over 7 339 cases reported. Case numbers have decreased in all provinces except the Northern Cape.