The table below provides figures for murders of SAPS members between 1994 and June 1999:

Table 12: Murder of Members of the SAPS
1994 - 1998
Year On Duty Off Duty Total
1994 83 180 263
1995 83 156 239
1996 76 145 221
1997 90 154 244
1998 91 145 236
Totals: 1994 - 1998 423 780 1203
Source: SAPS Medical Board

Between January and June 1999, 117 police officials were murdered. For the period 1994 to 1998, 64.8% of the murders of police officials occurred while the officials were off duty. The table below provides a breakdown of the manner in which police officials were murdered:

Table 13: Murder of Members of the SAPS
Manner of Death
1994-1998
MANNER OF
DEATH		 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 TOTALS
Gunshot wound 234 215 177 200 175 1 001
Knife stabbing 22 16 10 15 5 68
Other Assault 6 7 2 1 0 16
Unknown 1 1 32 28 56 117
ANNUAL TOTALS 263 239 221 244 236 1 203

Firearms were by far the most common means by which police officials were murdered. A total of 83.2% of the murdered officers died from gunshot wounds between 1994 and 1998.

 

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