Crime stats point to bleak future, say KZN parties
THE crime statistics presented by Police Minister Bheki Cele are indicative of a bleak future, say political parties in Kwazulu-natal.
Cele reported the quarterly crime rates on Friday, reflecting on the period between October and December.
Cele noted that the statistics included crimes committed during the festive season.
About 7 555 people were killed during this time frame, of which 3144 were slain with a firearm, and 2498 killed with other weapons, such as knives, sharp and blunt instruments, bricks or, in many cases, bare hands.
4 992 suspects were arrested for gender-based violence and femicide-related crimes. During the same period, 71 criminals were given 89 life sentences, 219 were sentenced to between one and nine years imprisonment, and 143 were sentenced to between 10 and 19 years’ jail. He said 67 offenders were sentenced to 20 years and more.
Cele said that 5935 incidents of rape were reported, and had taken place at the homes of either the victim or the perpetrator, meaning the accused were either family, friends or neighbours. He said the DNA backlog, which was initially in excess of 241 000 cases, had been reduced to 1600 – a 99.3% reduction.
He reported that contact crimes had increased by 11.65%, sexual offences decreased by 25.45%, and property-related crimes increased by 7.2%.
Zwakele Mncwango, Actionsa KZN provincial chairperson, said intervention was key to addressing the crime rates.
“The minister always talks about the stats, but they never intervene. It is no use having data, but not making use of it. The stats can tell you where these crimes are reported, but the big question is what are you doing about it? What interventions are in place to stop it?”
Mncwango said the shortage of resources was a huge cause for concern.
He said that in the case of a Cabinet reshuffle, it would be ideal for Cele to step down.
Mncwango added that it was important to strengthen South Africa’s crime intelligence, saying that it was almost non-existent.
Blessed Gwala, chief whip in KZN of the Inkatha Freedom Party, said that a massive campaign should be undertaken by the SAPS to repossess firearms from their owners, particularly ones that were illegal, as they were mostly responsible for the killings. He said anyone who was found in possession of an illegal firearm should be severely punished.
He said that the lack of proper explanation of laws attached to the ownership of guns was also the reason why citizens feared surrendering their firearms when amnesty was offered.
Gwala said that load shedding, coupled with unemployment and poverty, also contributed to the rate of murders.
He added that the crime statistics were not only a reflection on the police minister, but of the country’s laws.
“The legislation is weak because once the SAPS is referred to as a service, then people take advantage of it being a ‘service’, because there is no command. The laws need to be strengthened before we can talk about an individual who is deployed to serve as a minister of police,” said Gwala.
DA MPL Sharon Hoosen, the community safety spokesperson in KZN, said crime statistics reaffirmed that the province was becoming a war zone.
Hoosen said that the police’s performance was not pleasing.
Next week, Cele will be in Parliament giving MPS an in-depth explanation of solutions to address crime.