Gauteng police have released crime statistics for the period January to March 2026, revealing a nuanced picture of crime trends in South Africa’s most populous province. The briefing also addressed operational preparations for anticipated public marches scheduled for June 30, 2026, concerning undocumented migration.
According to the official briefing, overall reported serious crimes in Gauteng decreased by 5,066 incidents—a 5.2% decline compared to the same period in 2025. The province recorded reductions in most of the 17 priority crime categories monitored by police, with only arson and commercial crime showing increases.
Despite the quarterly improvement, officials emphasized that absolute crime numbers remain high and have not yet reached targeted reduction benchmarks. Several police stations continue to rank among the top 20 nationally for reported crime volumes, including Johannesburg, Roodepoort, Orange Farm, and Ivory Park.
Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni addressed a rise in kidnapping cases, which increased by 38 incidents (1.6%) during the review period. “While most kidnappings in the province are attributed to hijacking, our integrated multidisciplinary intervention—with our national anti-kidnapping unit, provincial organized crime structures, and the E2 project linked to the security industry—is yielding results,” Mthombeni stated. In collaboration with Business Against Crime South Africa, authorities arrested 606 suspects for kidnapping-related offenses between January and March 2026.
Gauteng continues to account for approximately 26% of South Africa’s reported priority crimes, highlighting the province’s significant influence on national crime statistics.
Regarding the anticipated June 30 marches, police confirmed they have identified organizations likely to coordinate the events and have implemented district-level operational measures to manage public gatherings. “We are not leaving any stone unturned,” a police spokesperson affirmed, stressing commitments to safeguard public order while ensuring businesses and residents can continue daily activities with minimal disruption. Authorities indicated that further operational details would be communicated to the public shortly.