Enlarge image
Protests against violence in Durban (archive photo)
Photo: RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP
The South African police have seen an exceptionally sharp increase in violent crime over the past three months.
According to the latest statistics, there were more than 6100 homicides and homicides in the months of July to September.
That was an increase of 21 percent compared to the same period last year, it said.
Most recently, 9,556 rapes were reported between July and September, an increase of seven percent.
How high the estimated number of unreported acts is estimated was not given.
"The latest data on crime show once again that South Africa is a violent country," Police Minister Bheki Cele told the South African media.
The extent of sexual violence is "a shame and deeply disturbing".
hej / dpa