The Gauteng Provincial Government has welcomed a decline in overall crime across the province, attributing the improvement to intensified law enforcement operations, stronger partnerships and increased community involvement in crime-fighting initiatives.
In a statement issued on Tuesday following the release of the South African Police Service’s fourth-quarter crime statistics for the 2025/26 financial year, the provincial government said the figures reflect a continued downward trend in crime and highlight progress in efforts to improve public safety.
According to the statistics, Gauteng recorded a 5.2% decrease in the 17 community-reported serious crimes during the reporting period. The province also registered declines in several key crime categories, including property-related crime, which dropped by 9.7%, carjacking by 17.1%, and rape by 9.9%. Contact crimes such as murder and attempted murder also showed a downward trend.
“The improvements demonstrate that integrated law enforcement interventions and collaborative crime-prevention strategies are yielding positive results,” said Elijah Mhlanga, spokesperson for the provincial government.
Authorities credited initiatives such as Operation Shanela 2 and broader intergovernmental interventions for disrupting criminal activity, improving police visibility and strengthening response capabilities across the province.
The government further highlighted the arrest of more than 36,000 suspects during the reporting period, as well as the recovery of illegal firearms, drugs and stolen vehicles. The closure of numerous illegal liquor outlets was also cited as evidence of the province’s ongoing commitment to combating crime.
Despite the positive trends, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi cautioned that significant challenges remain.
“The progress is encouraging, but we will continue to intensify our efforts, particularly on crimes affecting women, children and vulnerable groups,” Lesufi said.
“We will intensify law enforcement operations, strengthen partnerships and deploy every resource necessary to ensure that the people of Gauteng feel safe in their homes, on the streets and in places of work.”
The provincial government expressed concern over crime categories that continue to pose a threat to communities, including sexual assault, kidnapping, commercial crime and arson. Authorities also raised concerns about attacks on police officers, both on and off duty.
As part of its broader safety strategy, the government said it is strengthening interventions aimed at combating Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), including expanding victim support services and intensifying prevention and awareness campaigns in partnership with SAPS and civil society organisations.
The province also reaffirmed its commitment to the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy (ICVPS), which focuses on improved coordination between government departments, law enforcement agencies, the private sector and community structures. The strategy seeks to leverage technology, strengthen community policing forums and address the socio-economic factors that contribute to crime.
“We call on residents to remain vigilant, report criminal activity and actively participate in community safety initiatives,” Mhlanga added.
“Together, we will ensure that crime continues to decline and that Gauteng becomes a safer place to live, work and invest,” he concluded.
