Johannesburg – The depressing crime figures released by Police Minister General Bheki Cele have been described by the GOOD party as “shocking”.
The latest crime statistics released on Friday show South Africa’s murder rate continues to soar, with 7 555 killings taking place in the third quarter of 2022/2023.
The murder rate was 10% more than in the previous third quarter.
GOOD Secretary-General Brett Herron said: “The latest set of appalling crime statistics – including over 80 murders and 135 rapes per day – exposes the extent to which South Africa has failed to recalibrate, narrow inequalities and develop its people and communities over the past three decades”.
Herron added: “The crime statistics for the last quarter of 2022 that Minister of Police Bheki Cele delivered today are shocking. Violent crime has increased in all categories. Women and children continue to be preyed on by men, and patriarchy continues to reign.
“Almost half of the reported rapes took place at the residence of the perpetrator and/or victim. Where should women and children feel safe?”
Between October and December, 500 people were convicted and sentenced for GBVF-related crimes, but during this same period, another 5 000 suspects were arrested for similar offences.
“We need more skilled police and prosecutors, but even more than that we need more and better-skilled teachers, more social workers, more emphasis on developing children, more community development projects, and more vision and dedication at local government level to develop under-resourced communities,” Herron suggested.
“We need a state that sees the necessity for programmes to heal broken and dispirited people and communities – and address their exclusion. And we need a business and middle class that sees the necessity to assist.”
Commenting on the same matter, the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) said “the crime statistics continue to paint a worrying picture for our communities”.
SAFTU said it continues to be alarmed by rising levels of crime and violence.
Apart from the high number of rapes and murders, SATFU said every day as many as 550 people were being assaulted with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
There were 50 582 such assaults during the period under review.
There were 56 cash-in-transit heists, 98 004 property-related crimes including burglary, stock theft, and motor theft.
“On aggregate, 2022 was the most tumultuous year. It was characterized by the senseless killings at Taverns and the gang rape of 8 young women in Krugersdorp,” SAFTU said.
SATFU also lamented the “brutal assassination” of DJ Sumbody (Oupa Sefoka) on 12 November 2022 and and 81 other ordinary working-class people whose names are not known to us”.
The crime statistics for quarter 4 of 2022 “paint a harrowing picture”, SAFTU said, adding that it was “true that the more socio-economic conditions worsen for the overwhelming majority, the more crime deepens”.
SAFTU said: “Unemployment is over 12 million, and the neoliberal macroeconomic frameworks do not promise any hope of redemption through job creation.”
