Crime stats: 17 805 killed in SA

Senior Researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, Dr Johan Burger, says it’s not only police that should be blamed for the increase in crime statistics. “It’s a problem that’s got to be tackled at the level of family units”. Incidents of murder increased by 4.6% in the 2014/15 financial year when compared to the previous year. While property related crimes had decreased by 0.8% in the year, burglary out of non-residential premises, theft out of vehicles and stock theft had all increased.

While crime levels were generally decreasing, there were categories that saw an increase.

These included murder, attempted murder, sexual offences, assault with intention to do grievous bodily harm and common robbery.

Additionally drug-related crime is up by 2.4% since a year ago and an astronomical 182% since 2004/2005, most likely because of the disastrous Selebi-era disbandment of specialised crime units such as the Narcotics Bureau in 2003. “And there is this causal link between that and the rate of criminal activity”.

Political parties, including the ANC, are highly concerned about the increasing murder rate in the country and are agreed that there is a need to fight fiercely and aggressively to stop the killings.

Although the statistics were put together in consultation with StatsSA, the DA wants them to be audited by an independent body with no ties to government.

“We thought the police might have wanted to juggle the results a little but it seems they have resisted the temptation”, Burger said. Brand South Africa’s flagship Play Your Part initiative aims to inspire South Africans to work together to overcome these and other pressing social problems. The Police Minister and the national government have a responsibility towards the people of the Western Cape. “In this regard I can safely say that we have a good story to tell as various efforts that we make towards reducing these crimes are beginning to pay dividends. In reflecting about the figures, commentators often forget that victims are not ink on paper but human beings, real people of flesh and blood”. This number of deaths is what one would expect from a country at war.

Crime affects each and every one of us.

“With… a few of the best technology in the world, and more than 194,000 personnel, the SAPS (South African Police Service) should be better able to reduce crimes such as robbery”.

“Each of these commissioners has forced out good, honest cops that might have challenged them and brought in their own people”, Mr Newham said.

Thulani Gqirana is the Mail & Guardian’s parliamentary correspondent.