Police Minister Bheki Cele recently reported that 7 004 people were killed from July to September 2022.
Cele made the announcement while releasing the crime statistics for the second quarter of the 2022/2023 financial year.
“This is an increase of 841 more people murdered, compared to the same period in 2021, when the country was placed under COVID-19 Lockdown four, three and two,” said the Police Minister.
According to Cele, arguments, misunderstandings and incidents of road rage and provocations accounted for 956 murders in the country.
Vigilantism claimed the lives of 528 people with Inanda, uMlazi police stations in KwaZulu-Natal and Nyanga station in the Western Cape registering the highest counts of over this period. This noted a total of 274 counts of murder reported in those three areas combined.
While discussing the murder rate, Cele noted, “Fighting crime has also come at a cost for members of the SAPS across the country.” This comes after 22 police officers were killed from July to September 2022.
While this is two members less compared to the same reporting period in 2021, Cele said it is on this note that his Ministry will never stop calling on SAPS members to defend themselves at all times from ruthless criminals whenever they are under attack. This is while considering that 2 808 people were shot and killed over the period.
“It is utterly simple; police must meet fire with fire!” he affirmed.
961 of the reported murders in KwaZulu-Natal were as a result of firearms, followed by Gauteng with 768 murders and 526 in the Western Cape, according to Cele.
Do you agree with Minister Cele? What is your take on this all?
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