The Portfolio Committee on Police has today expressed serious concerns over the increased murder rate in South Africa.
“We are very worried and concerned that we still see an increase in the number of murders in our country. South African Police Service (SAPS) and all other stakeholders need to devise strategies that would see the number of these deaths decreased,” said Mr Francois Beukman, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police.
This follows the release of 2013/14 crime statistics in Pretoria earlier today. According to the latest figures, there are 800 more murders compared to 2012/13 crime stats. The crime stats also reveal that attempted murder went up by 4.6% and aggravated robbery increased by 12.7%. Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm rose by 1.5%.
Mr Beukman says communities and all stakeholders must join forces with SAPS in the fight violent crimes. The committee is of the view that SAPS alone cannot win the fight against crime. The committee remains steadfast in its resolve to ensure SAPS improve its detective services towards realising safe and free communities. The Committee believes that an effective detective service can go a long way dealing effectively with some crimes.
The committee welcomed improvements such as a 3.3% decrease in common assaults, a 5.6% decline in sexual offences, with rape and sexual assault dropping by 6.3% and 4.9% respectively. The Committee would like to see SAPS replicate these successes in all other crimes.
“The fact that contact crimes are still troubling our societies is an indication that more needs to be done by SAPS and other concerned stakeholders. Crimes against women and children also need the utmost intervention. It cannot be that the vulnerable groups are still being victimised even though there are systems in place to curb this,” says Mr Beukman. Sexual offences against old people, as seen in the Eastern Cape, remain a major concern for the Committee. The Committee wants SAPS to reduce these crimes to a zero point.
The committee calls on communities to report crimes to SAPS and that SAPS should ensure that it leaves no stone unturned in dealing with all crimes. Community members should not harbour criminals. “It is high time our country embarked on a morale regeneration exercise, more so that some of the violent crimes occur between people who know each other or are known to the community,” added Mr Beukman.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Temba Gubula
Tel: 021 403 8307
Cell: 078 735 8809
E-mail: tgubula@parliament.gov.za
