2007
6 December 2007
Today, at a media briefing in Pretoria, the crime statistics for the period
1 April to 30 September 2007 were released by the Minister for Safety and
Security, Mr Charles Nqakula, and top management of the South African Police
Service.
When the crime figures for this six month period were compared to those
recorded during the same period (that is April to September) during 2006, the
following findings were made:
* Most of the contact-related, property-related and other serious crime
trends experienced decreases.
* Eight serious crimes are grouped together as "contact crime". These offences,
which account for 32,5 percent of South Africa's recorded crime are murder,
attempted murder, rape, assault grievous bodily harm (GBH), common assault,
indecent assault, aggravated robbery and other robbery.
* Seven of the eight contact crimes decreased by between 2 percent and 12,3
percent during the six month period under review. These decreases are as
follows:
* Murder: 6,6 percent
* Rape: -3,6 percent
* Attempted murder: 7,6 percent
* Assault GBH: -2,8 percent
* Common assault: -5,1 percent
* Aggravated robbery: -9,7 percent
* Common Robbery: -12,3 percent.
Murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and common
robbery all decreased within or almost within the 7 to 10 percent reduction
targets during the first semester of the 2007/08 financial year.
The only increase recorded in contact crimes was in relation to the crime of
indecent assault, which increased by 3,5 percent. There was an overall decrease
of 5,1 percent in contact crimes (in real figures)
The contact crime of aggravated robbery, which increased by 4,6 percent
during the 2006/07 financial year, has shown a decrease of -9,7 percent in the
April to September 2007 period.
Aggravated robbery is however disaggregated into the following
sub-categories which, together, make up the trend of aggravated robbery:
* street/public robbery: -15,2 percent
* carjacking: -0,7 percent
* house robbery: + 7,0 percent
* business robbery: +29,3 percent
* truckjacking: +53,3 percent
* Corporate Income Tax robbery: -26,7 percent
* Bank robbery: -11,7 percent.
The South African Police Service remains concerned about the continued
increase in robberies at residential and business premises. The National
Commissioner has held discussions with Provincial Commissioners, operational
commanders and other senior managers who are already putting measures in place
to address these crime trends, as well as truckjackings and the hijacking of
motor vehicles. Other role players, such as Business Against Crime, Community
Policing Forums, the Metro Police services and other government departments,
are supporting and partnering the South African Police Services in our
efforts.
In terms of property-related crime, theft out of/from motor vehicles
decreased by -13 percent, theft of motor vehicle/cycle decreased by 10,1
percent, burglary at residential premises decreased by 7,9 percent and stock
theft decreased by 1,7 percent.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs showed a 33 percent increase
which is an indication that law enforcement officials, even before the start of
the festive season, were adopting a zero-tolerance approach to this crime. This
should be a stern warning to all drivers to refrain from drugs and alcohol or,
in terms of liquor, to ensure that they stay well within the legal limit for
driving.
All crime statistics released today can be found on the SAPS web site
http://www.saps.gov.za. Crime statistics
at station level, for the same period, will be loaded onto the web site in due
course.
Enquiries:
Sally de Beer
Cell: 082 779 8658
Vish Naidoo
Cell: 082 567 4153
Trevor Bloem
Cell: 082 778 3561
Issued by: South African Police Service
6 December 2007
