‘KZN is a crime red zone’
POLITICAL parties have mixed views on why police in KwaZulu-Natal have not presented the province’s crime statistics publicly.
The national crime statistics for the period October 2022 to December 2022 were recently released by Bheki Cele, Minister of Police.
Soon after they were released, Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng’s premier, gave an address on the crime statistics for the province and explained how his administration aimed to bring them down.
A similar address was done by Reagen Allen, the Western Cape’s MEC for Community Safety and Police Oversight.
However, in KZN police and the Department for Community Safety and Liaison have remained silent on the matter.
The DA has since written to MEC for Community Safety and Liaison Sipho Hlomuka calling for answers.
Sharon Hoosen, an MPL and the DA’s KZN spokesperson on community safety and liaison, said: “The recent crime statistics clearly showed that lawlessness had become the norm in KZN, with a significant year-on-year increase in all contact crimes. Yet there is little, if any, urgency to resolve this.”
She said equally alarming was the failure of the provincial government to release the crime statistics to the public and the media, as had been done previously.
“Instead, this critical information is simply placed on the department’s website, and even then they no longer include detailed information on performance per police station. It’s clear that this ANC-run government is too embarrassed to present its performance to the public.
“This is as a result of its shocking failure to keep our citizens safe. The situation is also a clear move to deflect accountability for its ongoing poor performance when it comes to curbing crime.”
Hoosen said KZN was a red zone when it came to crime, with 17 people murdered each day. It is also the country’s rape capital, with 25 rapes reported every day.
“As MEC, Sipho Hlomuka has an obligation to present his department’s performance on a quarterly basis – whether good or bad. To avoid doing so is an indication of his unwillingness to address the seriousness of the situation.”
Hoosen said the DA expected the MEC to take ownership of KZN’s crime levels.
“We expect a detailed plan on measures that he and his department are taking to turn this situation around. The silence from this ANC-run government is deafening, while KZN’s people are under attack daily. The current level of criminality cannot be allowed to grow. Our communities must be kept safe.”
Blessed Gwala, the IFP spokesperson for community safety and liaison, said: “The police and the department need to be transparent and publicity present the statistics. Crime is too high in the country, and some cases are not reported.”
Vusi Khoza, EFF spokesperson, said: “The statistics were released a few weeks ago and are self-explanatory. Why is the DA insisting on a public presentation? It is just a waste of taxpayers’ money.”