Central SA
Free State records decline in major crimes; kidnapping and carjacking remain concerns─── ZENANDE MPAME 16:03 Tue, 03 Mar 2026
“We are encouraged to report that contact crimes in the province have decreased by 8.4%,” said Free State acting provincial commissioner Maj. Gen. Apathia Modise.
The third-quarter statistics for the 2025/2026 financial year, covering the period 1 October to 31 December, were released on Tuesday (3/3) at the Metpol building. The province recorded an overall decline in contact crimes for the third quarter.
Although the latest statistics show encouraging declines in key categories such as murder and sexual offences, police are preparing targeted interventions to curb the rise in attempted murder, carjackings, and kidnappings.
Contact crimes decreased by 8.4%, while murder was down 13.3%. Sexual offences dropped by 9.4%, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm decreased by 8.1%, and common assault fell by 11.6%.
“The only category that showed an increase during this period is attempted murder, which increased by 4.8%,” said Modise. “While these overall reductions are welcomed, the increase in attempted murder requires focused attention and targeted intervention.
“An important observation from the data is most murders occurred at the residence of either the perpetrator or the victim, at liquor outlets, or in public places such as streets and open fields.”
In the Free State, crime is often interpersonal and frequently takes place in environments where alcohol consumption plays a role.
Free State community safety, roads, and transport MEC Jabu Mbalula said the provincial crime prevention strategy exists to ensure crime prevention is integrated, focused, and supported by all sectors of government and civil society.
The strategy is anchored on a simple but powerful goal: that every person in the Free State must be and feel safe.
“To achieve this, we are committed to reducing overall crime, tackling gender-based violence and femicide, strengthening rural safety and border security, and investing in youth development to counter gangsterism and related social harms,” said Mbalula.
“We all know who sells illegal substances, who distributes counterfeit alcohol, and who terrorises women and children. Criminals survive through our silence; the time for looking away is over.”
A safer province begins with each one of us, working together to reclaim our streets, protect our children, and restore dignity to our communities, he said.
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