PRETORIA - Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and Eastern Cape reported the most crimes in the fourth quarter.
But, aside from the Northern Cape, they all reported decreases in the number of murders.
Releasing the latest crime statistics, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says this is encouraging but not enough for police to rest.
"The four high-crime provinces -- Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and the Eastern Cape -- contributed the bulk of murder incidents nationally," Mchunu said.
"Yet when compared to the same period last year, the current statistics offer some encouragement.
Among the top 30 police stations for murder, 13 stations registered lower counts, and two stations recorded no change."