By Teboho Moloi
BLOEMFONTEIN – Crime is down across most categories in the Free State, but attempted murder is rising — the only major offence to record an increase in the third quarter.
Presenting the province’s crime statistics for 1 October to 31 December 2025, Acting Provincial Commissioner Apaphia Modise said intensified festive-season operations led to notable declines in contact crimes.
Overall contact crimes dropped by 8.4%, murder fell by 13.3%, sexual offences declined by 9.4%, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm decreased by 8.1%, and common assault dropped by 11.6%.
However, attempted murder rose by 4.8%.Modise said the spike requires targeted intervention to reverse the trend.
“These successes are the result of the relentless dedication of our members, specialised detectives and operational teams, who continue to respond bravely to challenging first-responder scenes,” she said.
She also welcomed life sentences and lengthy prison terms handed down between October and December, saying they demonstrate police resolve to remove violent offenders from communities and secure justice for victims.
Modise urged residents to work with police, stressing that crime prevention remains a shared responsibility.
