The shocking truth about violent crime in Gauteng

State mortuary statistics show dramatic rise in violent deaths

Newly-released statistics from Gauteng’s 10 state mortuaries show an increase in violent deaths.

Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu‚ in a written reply to questions in the Gauteng Legislature by DA MPL Jack Bloom‚ revealed that violent deaths from gunshots‚ stab wounds and assault rose from 3‚324 in 2012/13 to 3‚618 in 2013/14‚ and 3‚846 in 2014/15.

These deaths accounted for 32% of the causes of unnatural death for bodies in Gauteng mortuaries last year.

Deaths due to surgical procedures have also increased‚ from 481 in 2012 to 803 in 2014. The vast majority of these were because of anaesthetics.

Traffic accidents accounted for 26% of the deaths last year‚ but the numbers have decreased slightly‚ from 3‚242 in 2013 to 3‚088 in 2014.

The third highest cause of death is hanging‚ with 846 deaths last year‚ accounting for 7% of all deaths.

Some other causes of death from 2012 to 2014 include:

Burns – 2‚090

Stillborn – 1‚807

Poisoning – 1‚462

Drowning – 748

Train accidents – 637

Electric shock – 360

Strangulation – 218

Suffocation – 115

Lightning – 50.

The overall number of bodies stored in the 10 Gauteng state mortuaries rose from 13‚602 in 2012 to 14‚866 in 2014.

• RDM News Wire.