17805 murdered in SA, 49 killed by children

The murder rate rose again by 4.6 percent from 2013/14 to 2014/15.

Briefing Parliament’s portfolio committee on police, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega revealed that 49 of the murders in the past financial year were committed by children, while 884 of the killings were perpetrated by youths, aged between 18 and 25.

Phiyega said they took a closer look at the murder rate in KwaZulu-Natal as a case study.

“During the reporting period, we found that 61 percent of the murders occurred over weekend, and 40 percent between 6pm and 12pm,” Phiyega said.

“It is also disturbing to note, on average we record 11 murders per day, but 55 murders were reported on Christmas day, and 54 murders on New Years Day.”

Attempted murder was up 3.2 percent nationally.

Both murder and attempted murder, along with assault and robbery with aggravating circumstances, fall in the “contact crimes” category. Earlier police minister Nathi Nhleko revealed contact crimes as a whole was up 0.9 percent.

Nhleko told MPs that while the increase in contact crimes, specifically murder, was concerning, he said it could not be tackled by police alone.

The minister said most murders were committed by people who knew their attackers.

“Those people when they going about their own business…social life, they don’t invite police,” said Nhleko.

He said contact crimes were a “social issue which requires largely advocacy”, and said work was needed to prevent a domino effect which saw less serious crimes escalating.

“We need a starting point. We need to teach people that because I disagree with you doesn’t mean I must give you a punch in the face,” said Nhleko.

“It starts with a small thing. You know, it’s a backhand slap, from that it graduates to punch…from a punch to a knife…and the next thing you are dead.”

The 2014/15 crime stats further showed that:

– Sexual offences were down 5.4 percent;

– Assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm were up 0.1 percent;

– Common assault down 2.8 percent;

– Common robbery was up 2.7 percent;

– Robbery with aggravating circumstances was up 8.5 percent;

– Burglaries at non-residential premises were up 1.2 percent;

– Burglaries at residential premises were down 2.3 percent;

– Truck hijackings were up 29.1 percent;

– Car hijackings was up 14.2 percent;

– Cash-in-transit heists were down 17.9 percent; and

– Bank robberies were down 19 percent. - ANA

(File photo: Gallo Images)