CRIME STATS: MORE THAN 20 000 KILLED IN MZANSI

Today, the 12th of September 2019 the Minister of Police Bheki Cele, National Police Commissioner Gen Khehla Sitole and SAPS statistics chief Maj-Gen Norman Sekhukhune presented the 2018/2019 crime stats to Parliament’s police portfolio committee.

A shocking total of 21,022 South Africans were murdered between April 2018 and March this year which is an increase of 686 murders.

The Ivory Park Police Station (which is the station that covers Ivory Park, Kaalfontein, Allandale and Ebony Park) recorded the 21st highest murders on the period under review. A total 106 murders were reported in the station. This is a decrease of 2 cases from 2017/8.

Nyanga In Cape Town is still the Murder Capital of the world. It recorded a total of 289 murders in a year. This is more than war-rigged country Iran.

58 people are murdered in South Africa every day and 2 murders occur every hour. More than half of murders happen between Saturday 9pm and Sunday 3am. Police say this is an indication that the crimes are fueled by the consumption of alcohol.

Cele mentioned that most murders are committed by people known to the victims. “A very high number of people are murdered by the people that they know” he said.

A shocking 736 murders are committed by children. Attempted murder cases across SA increased by 4.1% to 1,898.

When it comes to weapons used in murders the police data revealed that guns were used the most (7,156); followed by knifes (4,720) and in 506 cases bricks were used to attack the victims.

Part of the reasons for murder was arguments (1,727), gang violence (1,120), domestic violence (1,115), armed robbery (751) and taxi violence (321).