Cape Town - Opposition parties have questioned the accuracy of the crime statistics released by the SAPS for the period from July to September.
Police Minister Bheki Cele on Wednesday led a departmental delegation to the police committee to brief them about crime trends in the second quarter of the financial year.
Major-General Norman Sekhukhune painted a grim state of affairs with an increase in virtually all crime categories, except two. Sekhukhune said murder increased by 13.6% to 7 004 and was the highest in the Eastern Cape, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and Gauteng.
The only crimes that decreased were arson (by 17.7%) and burglary at non-residential premises (by 16.9%).
The statistics showed community-reported serious crimes spiked by 51 991, bringing the figure to 402 510 nationwide.
July was the worst month during the three-month period – recording 28 565 serious crimes, compared with 12 596 recorded in August and 10 830 in September.
Cele said “visibility” has become a big issue in terms of policing. Cele said crimes against women and children were worrying. 13 283 sexual offences were reported during the three-month period.
There were 989 murders of women and 315 others of children. Attempted murder of women stood at 1 277 while those of children were at 294.
“More than 50% of rapes happen in the homes of people where they are supposed to be safe. That includes the murder of women and children.”
Freedom Front Plus leader Pieter Groenewald cast doubt on the correctness of the crime statistics submitted to the committee.
“I don’t see this as a true reflection of the crime situation in South Africa.
“We saw earlier this year a report of the auditor-general noting discrepancies between certain crimes given by police and what has been produced in different police stations,” he said.
He questioned the inclusion of seven deaths in one farm incident which was apparently not included in the 16 farm killings stated in the presentation.
He also raised concern about figures Cele provided in a written parliamentary question about robberies at police stations.
Cele reportedly said there were none but the media had reported extensively about one incident.
“There is a huge problem between reporting at station level to the province and national. It is not a correct reflection,” Groenewald added.
DA MP Andrew Whitfield said there was no indication how Cele was turning around the SAPS towards an evidence-based policing approach.
Whitfield said the same police stations at the top in violent crime remained on that list, an indication they were simply not being dealt with.
“We need to look at the capability of SAPS and understand the patterns of crime. Why are strategies that are supposed to be deployed, not?” he asked.
DA MP Okkie Terblanche said people were not reporting crime at police stations because they were turned away.
ACDP MP Kenneth Meshoe said the statistics were “depressing and worrying. One asks the question whether we live in a society where criminals are in control. Should we conclude that the police are failing?” he asked.
NFP MP Munzoor Shaik Emam said there should be an admission that South Africa has long lost the war against crime. Crime was under-reported and that showed the little faith people had in police.
“You are going to continue to have rising crime. I am not surprised with the statistics we have just been given.”
Cape Times