unacceptable
7 December 2007
The South African Human Rights Commission is encouraged by the decrease in
reported crime as indicated in the crime statistics, covering the period 1
April 2007 to 30 September 2007 that were released by the South African Police
Service. The Commission, however, still finds the sheer numbers of offences
committed to be at unacceptable levels, which proposition is further
exacerbated by the massive underreporting of crime which scathingly speak to
the continued mistrust and unwillingness of South African citizens to avail
themselves to the protection of the state.
The Commission is specifically encouraged by the decrease in contact crimes
committed, most notably murder (down 6,5 percent), attempted murder (down 7,6
percent), common robbery (down 12,2 percent), and robbery with aggravating
circumstance (down 9,7 percent). The statistics also shows encouraging signs
with regard to decreases in burglaries at residential premises (down 7,9
percent), theft of motor vehicles (down 10 percent), and theft out of motor
vehicles (down 13 percent). We, however, remain concerned at the increase of
robberies and burglaries at business premises (up 29,3 and 3,4 percent
respectively). South Africans also still remain unsafe at their homes as
robberies at residential premises had increase by seven percent for the first
six months of the current financial year.
The increase in drug-related crimes and driving under the influence of
alcohol or drugs should most probably be ascribed to more vigilance and
increased police activities as these crimes heavily depend on police action for
detection. The Human Rights Commission appreciates the good work of the South
African Police Service with regard to their increased efficiencies in these
categories of crime. It is also apparent from the released crime statistics
that special initiatives undertaken by the police, like Operation Trio in
Gauteng, are bearing fruit. Operation Trio has resulted in a 2,4 percent
decrease in car-jackings in Gauteng (KwaZulu-Natal showed a 8,6 percent
increase over the same period), a 7,7 percent decrease in robberies at
residential premises (KwaZulu-Natal showed a 32,5 percent increase), and only a
2,6 percent increase in robberies at business premises (KwaZulu-Natal showed a
71 percent increase, and the North West, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape
showed a 47,6 percent, 112,3 percent and a 168,5 percent increase
respectively). These kinds of figures clearly show the need to share success
stories and to replicate police efficiencies in the various provinces with the
necessary changes to suit unique provincial circumstances.
Although the percentage decreases is encouraging, the South African Human
Rights Commission remains disenchanted with the actual high numbers of crimes
committed, especially with regard to contact crime. The gratuitous nature of
these kinds of crimes clearly points to a serious lack of social cohesion which
is mainly beyond the policing capability of the police. The Human Rights
Commission, therefore, calls on all South Africans to live up to the spirit of
our Constitution, by taking hands with our law enforcement agencies in the
fight against crime, as we move towards a peaceful South Africa where respect
for the bodily integrity, property and the dignity of others will prevail.
In conclusion, the Commission would like to re-emphasise the problem of
underreporting of crime, and we call on the South African Police Service to
double their efforts in making the police and Community Service Centres more
user-friendly and service orientated, increase their professionalism in the
investigation of crimes in order to allow more reported cases to make it to
prosecution, and to honour their obligations under the Victims' Charter to
ensure that victims of crime are central and not subsidiary to the criminal
justice system.
Enquiries:
Danzel van Zyl
Cell: 084 677 8222
Issued by: South African Human Rights Commission
7 December 2007
