KwaZulu-Natal recorded 1,179 murders between April and June 2026, the second-highest provincial total in South Africa, according to crime statistics released by Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Phumelele Makoba on 11 September 2026. The figure represents a decline of 20 cases compared to the same period last year, while the national murder count dropped 5.9% to 5,427 cases.

Domestic Violence And Social Anger Fuel Violent Crime

Police analysts found that 124 murders and 422 attempted murders stemmed from arguments, misunderstandings, road rage, or provocation. Firearms remained the primary weapon used in these killings, with Major General Makoba appealing for communities to report illegal weapons.

“Community members know people with illegal firearms but some of them choose to keep quiet. Let us expose criminals so that our communities can be safe,” Major General Makoba said.

Domestic violence continued to wreak havoc across the province, with 46 people killed in domestic-related incidents and 115 attempted murders recorded. Assault cases, including common and grievous bodily harm, totalled 9,282, of which 4,011 were linked to domestic violence, while 881 cases of malicious damage to property resulted from such disputes.

“We are calling for families to return to the traditional ways of resolving domestic conflicts. No amount of violence can solve any problem; instead, the concerned parties risk being arrested,” she said.

Police Operations And Election Readiness

Between January and September 2026, KwaZulu-Natal police arrested 112,397 suspects during Operation Shanela and other initiatives, recovering 2,487 firearms and 29,353 rounds of ammunition. While the province saw a slight 1.3% decrease in reported rapes, Major General Makoba urged officers not to become complacent, noting that the hotspot Inanda recorded a 31.6% surge in rape cases.

With local government elections approaching in October 2026, Major General Makoba assured that police would deploy in full force to enable safe campaigning and voting. She called on political parties to compete without resorting to violence or intimidation.

“Do not eliminate competition by killing each other, do not intimidate one another to gain the upper hand,” Major General Makoba said.

The police leadership confirmed that 15 off-duty officers had been killed and 48 members dismissed for corruption during the period, highlighting ongoing internal disciplinary measures. Further updates on election-related security deployments are expected in the coming weeks.