Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko says generally, alcohol and drug abuse, were the major contributing factors to the increase in reported cases of murder and attempted murder in South Africa.

Releasing the annual 2013/14 Crime Statistics in Pretoria, on Friday, the Minister said alcohol and drug abuse were contributing factors to all sorts of crimes committed in the country.

Reported cases of murder have increased by 5% in the 2013/14 financial year as compared to the previous year.

16 259 murders cases were reported during the 2012/13 financial year, but the number increased to 17 068 in the 2013/14 financial year.

National Police Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega, said four provinces out of nine, in South Africa have contributed to the overall increase in murder.

“Gauteng, Northern Cape, Western Cape and Eastern Cape are the provinces that showed an increase in murder. Kwa-Zulu Natal, Free State, Mpumalanga and North West are the only provinces that recorded a decrease in murder,” Phiyega said.

Western Cape Province showed the highest increase in murder by 12.8%, from 2 580 in 2012/13 to 2 909 in 2013/14. It is followed by Gauteng by 11.2%, from 2 997 in 2012/13 to 3 333 in 2013/14 financial year.

According to Phiyega, Mpumalanga is leading in the decrease of reported murder cases, with a reduction of 16.4%, followed by Free State with a reduction of 7.5%, from 1023 in 2012/13 to 946 in 2013/14.

She urged citizens to report all sorts of crimes to the police, to help in a reduction of overall crime.

“Most of the crimes that are not reported, like common assault, are the ones that occur between people who are known to one another, and it can start as common assault but later lead to attempted murder or murder,” Phiyega said.

On statistics for attempted murder, Phiyega said Free State was the only province that recorded a decrease in attempted murder.

“All other eight provinces have shown an increase in attempted murder,” said Phiyega.

Free State province recorded 911 cases of attempted murder in 2013/14, which showed a 3.8% decrease from 947 cases of murder that were reported in 2012/13.

A leading province in attempted murder was North West with 17.5% from 918 in 2012/13 to 1 079 in 2013/14, followed by Northern Cape with 11.8% from 543 in 2012/13 to 607 in 2013/14. Gauteng showed an increase of 8.1% from 3 609 in 2012/13 to 3 901 in 2013/14.