Early childhood development centres, schools and tertiary institutions continue to be crime scenes in South Africa with murder and attempted murder on the rise.
The number of pupils raped on school premises also remains high.
The latest crime statistics released by Police Minister Bheki Cele on Friday show that murders committed in educational institutions increased by 12.5% from eight in the first quarter of 2023 to nine in the second.
Though the stats have a disclaimer that not all educational institutions are crime scenes, and that not all victims are pupils and students, the report for the April to June period shows that in six of the nine murders, four victims were pupils and two students.
A total of 25 attempted murders were committed in educational institutions in the period between April and June, up by 79% from the 14 cases of attempted murder reported between January and March.
Rape decreased from 84 in the second quarter from 69 in the first quarter.
A closer look at the stats reveals that the number of rapes that occurred in creches or aftercare centres increased by 100% from three to six.
The majority or rapes were committed against pupils with 37 pupils in either primary and high school being victims of the crime and three pupils at a school with special needs.
Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm was down from 238 in the first quarter to 178 in second quarter, marking a 25% decrease in this category of crimes committed at educational institutions.
Institutions of learning continue to be vulnerable to criminals with 2 136 burglaries reported in the second quarter, compared to 629 burglaries at liquor premises.
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