Crime stats a reflection of issues facing SAPS, says Popcru

Police Mchunu released the crime stats for the period between April and June on Friday. 

"Crime is generally on the increase. Crimes that should worry us most are murder, rape, hijacking, kidnapping for ransom payments, and extortion,” he said in Cape Town. 

Four of the nine provinces recorded an increase in murder cases, with almost 6,200 people murdered during the period under review.

Rape and hijacking also increased. 

Reported rape cases climbed from 9,252 to 9,309, which represents a 0,6% increase.

Popcru spokesperson Richard Mamabolo said the uneven allocation of resources, poor working conditions and the shortages of ammunition and training are some of the reasons for the police’s inability to curb crime. 

"It is always vital that when reflecting on the rising crime statistics, we not only blame it on police but take a broad approach that considers the broader socio-economic conditions faced by the populace, including the implications thereof which led to the conditions our law enforcement officers have to contend with,” Mamabolo explained.  

“Hence, Popcru held a policing indaba late last year, which was premised on the intensification and expansion of work that should be undertaken with various sectors of society, business and communities to prevent and combat crime, and requires the mobilisation of broader responsibility and a more proactive approach on crime prevention."

Mamabolo also urged the government to address the fragmented structures in the criminal justice cluster. 

"There is a need to establish synergy between the Department of Correctional Services, the SAPS and the judiciary, with the SAPS accounting for the arrests made, the judiciary accounting for the number of convictions and prosecutions, while the Department of Correctional Services accounts for the number of incarcerations.

"This will assist in determining consolidated future budgets that should bring about a correlated approach within the CJC instead of the current continued situation wherein every department works blindly and in isolation of one another."

Meanwhile, RISE Mzansi’s Chief Whip in the National Assembly, Makashule Gana, said the latest crime stats point to the lived reality of communities in both rural and urban areas.

"We live in what can best be described as a war zone. Sixty-eight people are murdered every day, and 75 attempted murders are reported daily. Women, in particular, are under attack, with an average of 102 rapes reported daily and on average, 62 households are subjected to robberies.

"In order to get a handle on runaway crime in the country, the Police Ministry and National Command need to focus their efforts on halving the murder rate over the next five years, working with all stakeholders, dealing with the social contributors of crime, particularly rape and murder, working with communities, academia and business and upskilling and employing more detectives,” said Gana.

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