Crime is a facet of life which affects scores of South Africans on a daily basis, with media headlines emphasising the impact it has on society.
But just how bad is the crime situation in South Africa? It seems the crime statistics, which Police Minister Bheki Cele and National police commissioner Khehla Sitole and his team released in parliament on Thursday, September 12, paints a terrifying picture.
The reporting period is between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019.
Throughout South Africa, 21 022 murder cases were reported during the time period, compared to the 2017/2018 period’s where 20 336 cases were reported.
Rape has increased from 40 035 to a nauseating 41 583 cases, while sexual assault has risen from 6 786 to 7437 cases.
Robberies at residential premises now stands at 22 431 cases, versus last year’s 22 621 cases. Nationally, burglaries in residential premises stand at 220 865, which is less than last year’s figures of 228 094 cases.
The number of arson cases, nationally, has increased from 3 869 cases to 4 083 cases. Malicious damage to property stands at 113 089 cases nationally, over last year’s 111 492 cases.
Looking at a provincial level, in KwaZulu-Natal, a staggering 4 395 murder cases were reported, this sees an increase over 2017/2018 period’s 4 382 cases. Attempted murder has also seen an increase, rising from 4 099 in 2017/2018 to 4 203.
Furthermore, rape has increased from 7 243 cases in the 2017/2018 period to 7 667 cases during the 2018/2019 period. Sexual assault has increased to 1 266 cases from the previous year’s 1 148 cases. Attempted sexual offences have increased to 235 cases in the 2018/2019 time period from last year’s figures of 204 cases.
Carjacking has increased from 2 698 to 2 762 cases, while truck hijacking has also seen an increase of 80 cases over last year’s 52 cases.
Burglary at residential premises is sitting at 38 790 cases over last year’s 38 545 cases. Robbery at residential premises has also increased, from 4 174 cases to 4 182 cases.
Arson has also seen a spike in KZN, with 754 cases over last year’s 679 cases. Malicious damage to property has also seen a tremendous spike, shooting from 12 958 cases to 13 704 cases.
What do the crime stats say about Newcastle?
According to the crime stats, Newcastle saw a decrease in murder cases during the allocated time period dropping from last year’s 19 cases to 15 cases.
There has also been a decrease in rape cases, with 30 cases during the 2018/2019 period over last year’s 36 cases. However, there has been an increase in sexual assaults, with the figures shooting up from last year’s seven cases to 15 cases.
Carjacking has also increased, rising to four cases over the two cases from last year. During the 2017/2018 period, both arson cases and malicious damage to property stood at 32 cases. They have respectively risen to 167 cases and 170 cases.
Burglary cases have also seen an increase in Newcastle, going from 481 cases to 587 cases. However, robbery at residential premises has decreased from 22 cases to 16 cases.
What do the crime stats say about Madadeni?
Madadeni has also seen a substantial drop in murder cases, with the figure sitting at 39 cases over last year’s 53 cases. Rape cases have also dropped, with the number of cases now standing at 98 over last year’s 106 cases.
Robbery at residential premises, however, has increased to 36 cases over the 21 cases in the 2017/208 time period. Burglary at residential premises has also increased, with the figures now sitting at 667 cases over last year’s 519 cases.
Malicious damage has increased from 203 cases to 261 cases.
How does oSizweni reflected in the crime stats?
oSizweni sees an increase in murder cases during the 2018/2019 period, with the figure rising to 57 cases over last year’s 53 cases. Rape, however, has dropped from 146 cases to 136 cases.
The robbery at residential premises remains unchanged, standing at 28 cases. Burglary at residential premises has dropped in the 2018/209 time period from 739 cases to 679 cases.
Malicious damage to property cases has also decreased, dropping from 201 cases in 2017/2018 to 169 cases. There is also a significant drop in arson cases, with the figure now standing at 167 cases over the 194 cases in the 2017/2018 period.
With the crime stats painting a bleak picture on our nation, what are your thoughts on the stats? What do you think contributes to crime and how do you feel the police can combat it? Leave your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below.
