KZN Murder Rate Drops, But Authorities Remain Concerned Over Mass Killings and Witchcraft Allegations

Despite a decrease in KwaZulu-Natal’s murder rate, authorities remain troubled by persistent violent crimes, including mass killings linked to witchcraft accusations. This was highlighted in the recent crime statistics presented by KZN Premier Thami Ntuli.

Crime Trends in KwaZulu-Natal

The statistics, covering July to September 2024, revealed mixed trends compared to the same period in 2023. Key highlights include:

• Murder: Decreased by 175 cases (-10.9%).
• Attempted Murder: Increased by 66 cases (+3.9%).
• Assault with Intent to Inflict Grievous Bodily Harm: Rose by 534 cases (+7.5%).
• Common Assault: Up by 470 cases (+7.1%).
• Total Sexual Offences: Dropped by 52 cases (-2.0%).
• Aggravated Robbery: Fell by 314 cases (-4.9%).

A total of 1,428 murder cases were recorded during this period, resulting in 558 arrests. Authorities executed 13,173 arrests for contact crimes across the province.

Several communities, including Durban Central, Phoenix, Verulam, and Chatsworth, ranked among the top 30 stations nationally for high crime rates.

Premier Ntuli expressed alarm over the role of witchcraft accusations in some murders. Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, he cited specific cases, such as the killing of seven family members at KwaHlokohloko, including a five-year-old boy.

“Elements of believing that someone has done something wrong to another branch of the family often lead to tragic outcomes,” Ntuli explained.

In another incident in Hammarsdale, four women from the same family were fatally shot by an assailant who believed they were using witchcraft to harm him.

“These cases reveal a troubling trend where individuals resort to violence based on misguided beliefs,” Ntuli added.

Police forensic expect carry the body of a person who was suspected to be behind the police killing in Hillbrow. The cops cornered him at a backroom inside a yard in Bez Valley East of johannesburg and a shootout ensued which ultimately left him dead. 240815 Picture: Boxer Ngwenya

Ntuli emphasized the importance of addressing the underlying beliefs fueling these crimes. “We are fostering ongoing dialogue to understand and mitigate the causes of such incidents, including analyzing cultural beliefs and their influence on behavior.”

The government is working on community engagement initiatives to dispel myths and reduce violence rooted in superstition.

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