Crime Statistics Released

MEDIA WATCH

Hi SA CAN Family,

We are busy looking at the crime statistics which have been released and are compiling our ‘Murders in Review’ report (covering the last 10 years of KZN murders), from which we will soon be publishing a more in-depth article, looking at where we have come from and where we are heading in light of all our projects and investments made towards crime prevention and reduction, particularly dealing with the KZN murder figures. We believe that KZN is a model-setting example in this regard, and although the picture portrayed by the statistics is not good, results show that positive steps are being made when we consider the recent arrests and convictions made by SAPS around the country. One murder is one too many and all our collective efforts are aiming to reduce these figures as much as possible.

Brian Jones (SA7)


CRIME STATS

The SAPS (South African Police Services) released the 2018/19 national crime statistics on 12 September, and according to Police Minister Bheki Cele, the picture is “not very rosy”.

Headline figures revealed increases in the categories of murder, attempted murder and sexual offences, with the Western Cape suffering the highest number of murders. Another alarming statistic was the number of murders committed by children: 736. The murder rate has increased steadily over the past eight years (see graph).

Rape, which falls under the sexual offences category – has increased by 3.9% with 1,548 more cases recorded than the previous year, putting the total at 41,583. Remember that these figures are the cases which have been reported at police stations, and there is no way of knowing how many cases go unreported, making the picture much worse.

Twenty-eight members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) were killed on duty, and 49 officers were killed off-duty.

The decrease in drug-related crimes may be because of the new laws regarding dagga use.

Property-related crimes decreased by 2.5% as a whole, but stock theft increased by 2.9%.

According to Cele, arguments and misunderstandings are the greatest cause of murders in SA, with gang-related and domestic violence also a factor. Firearms, knives, and sharp instruments are the weapons most commonly used in murders.

Brian Jones (SA7)
Brian’s Passionate Desk
Brian@BriansPD.World
http://bpd.trackbox.world
https://t.me/BriansPD 

SOURCES:
1. Citizen Reporter, 12.09.2019, https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/crime/2178229/crime-stats-sex-offences-increase-by-4-6-murder-increases-by-3-4/
2. S’thembile Cele, 12.09.2019, 12:55, https://city-press.news24.com/News/736-murders-committed-by-children-during-past-financial-year-20190912
3. Crime Stats SA, accessed 13.09.2019, http://www.crimestatssa.com/national.php