EASTERN CAPE

YOU were more likely to get murdered or raped in Eastern Cape than in any other South African province in 2016-17.

This is if crime statistics released by Police Minister Fikile Mbalula yesterday, are anything to go by.

An East London-based researcher on local governance and community safety, Glenn Hollands, yesterday cautioned that the Stats SA Victims of Crime Survey found that SA citizens were less and less inclined to report crime, “mostly because they lack confidence in the police”.

He said crime figures could also be affected by efficient stations which handled large case volumes having “worse statistics than poorly performing stations that turn complainants away”.

“Nonetheless the stats are a hugely significant database on crime and it would be foolish to ignore them,” Hollands said.

Mbalula revealed that Eastern Cape had the highest murder and rape ratios in the entire country.

According to the report, it had a murder ratio of 55.9 per 100 000 people.

Despite the province being placed third behind Gauteng and KwaZuluNatal for the number of rape cases reported, it recorded a ratio of 105.3 per 100 000 people, the highest compared to other provinces.

His report covered the period between April 2016 and March 2017.

Delivering his report in parliament yesterday, Mbalula said the stats were used to measure 21 serious crimes, 17 of which were those reported by community members.

The remaining four were those detected as a result of police-initiated operations including illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, possession of and dealing in drugs, and sexual offences detected by police. Mbalula – who lambasted police for their laziness and inaction – said in an ideal situation, the 17 crime categories were supposed to all decrease, while the remaining four