Over 7,000 murdered between October and December 2023

PRETORIA - Over 7,000 people were killed in South Africa between October and December 2023.

That's according to Police Minister Bheki Cele, who released the quarterly crime statistics in Pretoria earlier.

Cele says the murder stats are an increase of over 2 percent compared to the same period in the previous year.

Most murders were reported in the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

WATCH: Police Minister releases quarterly crime statistics

"It is disturbing and concerning that the number of people murdered during this period increased by 2.1 percent leading to 155 more people murdered as compared to the same period," Cele said.

"The provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Free State must be singled out and commended for being able to register a reduction in the number of people murdered during this period.

"While they may not be out of the woods yet, it is important to highlight that attention and more resources have been allocated to stations that have the highest number of murders reported."