19 people killed every day in KZN

EIGHTY-TWO people are killed every day in South Africa, according to the latest quarterly crime statistics released by the SAPS.

In KwaZulu-Natal alone, about 19 people are killed daily.

The province has been recorded as having the highest number of murder cases from October to December 2022 with 1 821 cases over that period.

KZN is followed by Gauteng with 1 721 cases, the Eastern Cape with 1 501, and the Western Cape with 1 198 cases.

The SAPS listed Inanda as the worst precinct with 87 murder cases and 83 rape cases. The KwaMashu police station followed with 56 murders followed by uMlazi police station with 51 murders and 71 rapes.

The province overall saw a 19.8% increase in hijackings, an 18.5% hike in house robberies, a 13.3% increase in rape, an 8.3% increase in murder, and a 4.7% increase in kidnappings.

Mary De Haas, a KZN violence monitor, said the problem started with the breakdown of crime intelligence.

“As with other policing components, there are still members who strive to do their work properly but the problem is with incompetent often corrupt management.”

De Haas said people should not be surprised by the crime statistics.

“They should be outraged that President Cyril Ramaphosa is keeping a Police Minister like Bheki Cele, who has adverse findings against him by the inquiry into him and the Public Protector. He has cases against him, including the 2010 World Cup tender.”

She said the president needed to intervene.

“There is no independent oversight of the police. All bodies are appointed by and report to the police minister, who is responsible for the corruption. There needs to be an appointment of an independent police board.”

During the release of the crime statistics, Cele said the police were using what they had at their disposal amid budget cuts and a growing population to police a violent society.

“The truth of the matter is that poverty and inequality and unemployment coupled by little to no basic services is impeding on policing. That is why the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy, recently adopted by the government to address the drivers of crime, must be fast tracked in order to boost safety and security in communities and the country as a whole.”

In response to the crime statistics, MPL Sharon Hoosen, the DA KZN spokesperson on community safety and liaison, said the DA had raised several issues that contributed to the high crime rate.

These included the SAPS being understaffed, the lack of specialised units, insufficient visible policing and insufficient investigators.

“The DA has consistently raised these issues.

“There is however, no attempt to ensure that they are resolved and to ensure that KZN has a strong, highly trained and focused police force. Instead, there is shocking apathy from the very individuals who are supposed to ensure the safety of our people.”