| Address by the Natcom of the SAPS, Gen Fannie Masemola (SOEG), at the release of the third quarter Crime Statistics for the 2025/2026 financial year Friday, 20 February 2026, Pretoria | |
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| Date Published: | 2026/02/20 |
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ADDRESS BY THE NATIONAL COMMISSIONER OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE SERVICE, GENERAL FANNIE MASEMOLA (SOEG), AT THE RELEASE OF THE THIRD QUARTER CRIME STATISTICS FOR THE 2025/2026 FINANCIAL YEAR FRIDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2026 GCIS MEDIA CENTRE, TSHEDIMOSETSO HOUSE, PRETORIA
Programme Director, As the management of the South African Police Service, we remain steadfast in our commitment to stabilise and reduce serious and violent crime across the country and the positive downward trend observed in the fifteen of the seventeen crime categories bears testimony to this. While numbers remain high, it is quite encouraging that we are noting a reduction in the number of murders, rape and sexual offences reported. This is indeed a clear demonstration that we are turning the tide, intentionally and aggressively by heightening police visibility and successfully implementing solution driven crime combatting strategies, with a view of ultimately dismantling organised crime syndicates. Through targeted intelligence driven operations, we have also noted the 14 percent reduction in trio crimes which is carjacking, house and business robberies. While we are not out of the woods yet, these small victories and wins must serve as motivation to intensify our fight against crime. Just yesterday, Minister, we witnessed the destruction of 13 859 firearms that were confiscated during intelligence driven police operations. This brings the total number of firearms destroyed over the past seven years to 305 934 Minister. As we all know firearms remain a challenge in our communities as most violent crime including murders and robberies are used with the commission of firearms. Some of the firearms destroyed were linked to finalised criminal cases such as farm attacks, cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies and crimes against women and children. Others were voluntarily surrendered or handed in during firearm amnesty periods. By destroying these firearms Ministers, the men and women in blue prevent them from further circulation. On a weekly basis, the SAPS seizes no less than 100 illegal firearms during tracing operations, stop-and-searches, and other targeted crime combating activities. Just last week, nationwide operations led to the recovery of 147 illegal firearms. The previous week was 142 illegal firearms and the week before that was another 119 illegal firearms. In an effort to also ensure compliance of the firearms controls act, our men and women in blue also conducted compliance inspections at more than 3700 licensed firearm dealers and private security company premises across the country. In one operation in Middleburg in the province of Mpumalanga, police seized 537 licensed firearms after the owner failed to comply accordingly. Legal firearm owners are reminded to urgently comply with the firearms control act and ensure safe storage, authorisation and to account for each and every firearms that they own. When one carries their firearm, they should always be in possession of a valid license and permit of the firearm they are carrying and failure to do so, they are likely to be charged and arrested for failure to comply with the Firearms Control Act 60 of 2022. Coming back to the business of the day, While the Acting Minister has outlined the crime statistics for the third quarter, it is important for me to highlight the operational backbone behind the progress we are seeing on the ground. Through Operation Shanela, our high-density, intelligence-driven crime fighting intervention, we have intensified visible policing, executed targeted raids, and enhanced stop-and-search operations in identified hotspots. These actions have led to the confiscation of thousands of illegal firearms and rounds of ammunition, the arrest of wanted suspects for murder, rape, and armed robbery, and the disruption of organised criminal networks. In provinces such as the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape, multidisciplinary teams have executed major takedowns targeting extortion syndicates, drug trafficking networks, cash-in-transit robbery gangs, and illegal mining operations. These successes are the result of improved intelligence coordination, integrated deployments, and closer collaboration with other law enforcement agencies. Our focus remains on:
Through our concerted crime combatting efforts our men and women in blue worked tirelessly in ensuring that we create a safe and secure environment for all who live in South Africa. Minister, I must say, this was a very busy period, but equally so, our members were on the ground to ensure that we fully implement our safer festive season operational plan to deter criminality in all forms and shape but also put those who are found on the wrong side of the law behind bars. From Gauteng right down to the Western Cape, our members remained relentless in pursuit of those who transgressed the law. This is why we have through our safer festive season operational plan we ensured that, through deployment of critical resources and manpower, our police officers were adequately resourced to deal decisively with criminals. I must say, we came into this festive period, with the right mindset and that was to put the safety and security of the people of South Africa first. We rolled out our safer festive operational plan in October 2025, where we deployed various policing interventions and strategies and gave strict instructions and a clear directive to our members on the ground to deal decisively with those who cross the line. It is evident that our efforts to prevent, combat and arrest criminals is proving to be effective. It is also quite clear with the number of arrests made, that OPERATION SHANELA that was running concurrently with our safer festive operations is making its mark and criminals are feeling our presence on the ground. Minister, it gives me great pleasure to highlight of some of the arrests effected and confiscations of firearms and dangerous weapons during the festive period, and the numbers are as follows:
ARRESTS In terms of arrests: A total of 221 155 suspects were arrested For various crimes ranging from murder, rape and house robberies. A further breakdown is as follows:
The biggest number of arrests were recorded for the following crimes:
The following recoveries and confiscations were made:
A total of 24 753 rounds of various calibre of ammunition was seized
CONVICTIONS Between the 1st of October and 31 December 2025, a total of 2 738 accused persons were convicted to time in prison. 199 accused persons were sentenced to life imprisonment, and these include 51 murderers and 139 rapists 15 accused persons were sentenced to 40 years and more imprisonment and these include 10 murderers and two rapists. 237 accused persons were sentenced to 20 years and more imprisonment and these include 94 murderers and 105 rapists. 29 accused persons were sentenced to 30 years and more imprisonment sentences and these include 10 murderers. 910 accused persons were sentenced to 10 years and more imprisonment and these include 261 murderers and 166 rapists. 1348 accused persons were convicted to a period between 5- and 9-years imprisonment and these include 126 murderers and 77 rapists. Lastly, our priority remains the fight against the scourge of Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF). In this regard, 631 GBVF perpetrators were convicted to time in prison, and the breakdown is as follows: 109 GBVF perpetrators were sentenced to life in prison. 77 GBVF perpetrators were sentenced to twenty years and more years in prison. 169 GBVF perpetrators were sentenced to between 10 and 19 years in prison And lastly, 276 GBVF perpetrators were sentenced to between one- and nine-years imprisonment sentence. With this said to the men and women in blue: your dedication and resilience under difficult circumstances do not go unnoticed. I urge you to remain disciplined, professional, and focused. Ignore the noise. Remain loyal to your oath of office. Serve and protect the people of South Africa with integrity and courage. Our constitutional mandate is clear; to prevent, combat and investigate crime, to maintain public order, to protect and secure the inhabitants of this country and their property, and to uphold and enforce the law. We will not retreat. We will not be distracted. We will continue to intensify our efforts to ensure that the people of South Africa feel safer in their homes, in their streets, and in their communities.
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