WeeklySA_AdminTask: Fighting crime was not a task for law enforcement alone – it requires active participation of communities
By Monk Nkomo
While there has been an overall decrease in several categories of crime, including murder, there was still serious concern about the high number of gang-related murders in the Western Cape, the increase in rape cases in KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Mpumalanga and the increase in attempted murder cases against children of up to 17 years of age.
This was confirmed by Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu during the release of the 3rd Quarter Crime statistics for the period October 1, 2024 to October 31, 2024 in Pretoria on Friday.
Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces remained the highest contributors to the overall murder figures, accounting for 28 percent and 29 percent respectively followed by the Eastern Cape at 18 percent and Western Cape at 17,4 percent.
Western Cape continued to record the highest number of gang-related murders, with 263 counts reported in this quarter alone. ‘’ This is unacceptable and it must change. A large number of these murders occurred in Bishop Lavis, Mitchells Plain, Kleinvlei, Delft and Elsies River.
‘’ While we register an overall reduction in contact crimes against women, we are deeply concerned by the increase in attempted murder cases against children aged 0 – 27 years. This is an alarming development that calls for a concerted effort to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.’’ Mchunu said rape cases had increased in KZN, Mpumalanga and Free State whereas other provinces had recorded decreases. This data served as a stark reminder that Gender-Based Violence remained a critical issue requiring intensified interventions. The Police Minister said besides these challenges, there has been an overall decrease in several categories of crime compared to the same period in 2023. There has been a decrease of 9,8 percent in murder cases, 3,3 percent reduction in rape incidents and 3,2 percent drop in attempted sexual offence cases. There has been a notable decline in carjackings and robberies at both residential and non-residential premises.
He acknowledged that there were areas that required urgent attention especially where there had been an increase in cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and malicious damage to property. ‘’ These crimes continue to disrupt communities and demand a reinforced response from law enforcement.’’
Quoting Section 12 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996, Mchunu said this Act guaranteed every person the right to freedom and security. This included the right to be free from all forms of violence, whether from public or private sources. To this effect, Section 205 of the Constitution mandated the South African Police Service to prevent, combat and investigate crime, maintain public order, protect and secure the inhabitants of our nation and their property and to uphold and enforce the law. The Minister said there were four provinces – Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern and Western Cape – that dominated on criminality. They coincide with where the metros are in the whole country and were densely populated.
‘’We are still very concerned about police murders in the country and we want to emphasise that this will not be tolerated at all. Yesterday’s incident near Butterworth illustrates this very clearly. We are positioning ourselves accordingly in terms of policing whilst we continue our work throughout the whole country.’’ The latest statistics also recorded a 4.5% reduction in stock theft, which was a welcome relief for farmers, communities and the agricultural sector as a whole. This positive shift highlighted the importance of continued collaboration between law enforcement, local leaders and communities to safeguard this vital industry.
Although the percentage appeared to be relatively small, Mchunu said they had noted the outcry of communities that farm livestock, particularly in the eastern Free State, north western parts of KZN and in the northern Eastern Cape, hence their plan to combine these three provinces in a meeting to discuss this challenge.
Mchunu added that the issue of gang violence in the Western Cape required a rethink in approach, because this was not only a historic matter but was also repetitive in nature. There was no point in us discussing one and the same thing with no change. They were dedicating the 27th of February this year to amongst other things, review policing in high murder zones, and their focus would therefore be on murders and firearms, whereafter they would decide on the concrete steps that needed to be taken. Partnerships with communities and other partners would be a critical element in the rethink in approach.
‘’A combination of interventions indicates that there are much more effective methods of fighting crime and criminals. Several individuals have been dealt with in a number of areas in the Eastern Cape recently and Kwa-Zulu Natal, following a series of taxi violence and extortion – related murders. I do want to state that no one is classified as “untouchable” – you do wrong, we arrest you’’.
The Minister noted the concern of the public about extortions, kidnappings and drugs. All of these matters would receive their attention on the 27th of this month. He noted that most of these kidnappings were said to be orchestrated from St Albans prisons and the mastermind of these kidnappings still had access to a number of cellphones.
The reduction in criminal cases indicated that the strategies and interventions the police had implemented were yielding results. The Our Safer Festive Season initiative, launched in October 2024, had played a significant role in the recorded crime reductions. Through heightened police visibility and strategic operations, fewer crimes were reported and recorded during this period.
Mchunu said there were a number of crimes that were detected as a result of proactive police action, through the various operations carried out by the SAPS and the statistics indicated that had been an increase in cases of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
‘’Just yesterday, 16 049 firearms were destroyed in accordance with Section 149 of the Firearms Control Act. We will continue to carry out measures aimed at ensuring that illegal weapons are seized and destroyed, so as to ensure the safety of our communities’’. While progress had been made, police management recognised that crime remained a major concern. Among their key challenges was the backlog of outstanding dockets. This issue had now been ‘projectised’ and costed, and they were actively securing funding to expedite investigations and prosecutions.
To effectively combat crime, Mchunu said they had identified a number of key enablers which they would need strengthening, these included:
* Making use of and improving our technology
* Strengthening our Crime Intelligence
* Capacitating and improving the efficiency of our detective services
* Improving our forensic services
* Improvement of general environment under which police officers work.
Mchunu said commercial crimes remained a challenge, particularly fraud and corruption. Police were confident that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) would continue to intensify efforts to combat these offences and hold perpetrators accountable. Fighting crime was not a task for law enforcement alone. It required the active participation of communities, the private sector and various stakeholders. The police were enhancing their collaboration with the private sector and civil society to strengthen crime prevention measures and improve public safety.
The Minister appealed to communities to work hand in hand with law enforcement. Crime thrived in silence and he urged all South Africans to report criminal activities, cooperate with the police and participate in community policing forums.
‘’As the Ministry of Police, we remain resolute in our commitment to upholding the constitutional promise of safety and security for all. These crime statistics reflect progress, but they also highlight areas requiring urgent intervention. We assure South Africans that we are hard at work to address these challenges, and we will not relent in our efforts to build a safer, more secure nation’’.
Mirror Briefs
SUSPECTS’ KILLING PROBED
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is probing the deaths of six suspects following a shootout with police near Butterworth in the Eastern Cape. Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa said the shootout occurred at around 2,30pm on Thursday when officers were engaged by gunmen who had fled from police.
Members of the National Intervention Unit had received information that firearms were being transported in a vehicle from Cofimvaba. Mawisa said when they spotted the car and attempted to stop it, the driver sped off and a chase ensued. During the pursuit between Ndabakazi and Butterworth, shots were fired at the police, who then retaliated. “On investigation, six people were fatally wounded, and firearms were recovered in their vehicles.” Feared extortion kingpin, Yanga ‘Bara Nyalara, was among the dead. He was implicated in numerous crimes including murders, extortion and robberies.
Mawisa said the case has been referred to IPID for further investigation. The presence of a Western Cape crime syndicate member in the Eastern Cape has raised concerns about criminal networks operating across provincial borders.
IPID spokesperson Phaladi Shuping confirmed a case of “Death as a result of police action” is now being investigated. – Lehlohonolo Lehana.
NO G20 BOYCOTT BY USA.
As South Africa assumes its pivotal role in the Group of 20 (G20) presidency, President Cyril Ramaphosa has firmly dismissed suggestions that the United States is boycotting the forum, despite sharp ideological differences and the absence of key American officials. Speaking to journalists on the margins of the G20 foreign ministers’ meeting held at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa emphasized a commitment to dialogue and collaboration, underscoring that the U.S. remains an integral part of the G20 framework. “We will persist in identifying pathways and mechanisms to maintain constructive relations, regardless of apparent divergences,” Ramaphosa declared . “I am driven by a solutions-oriented approach, and I am confident that [U.S.] President [Donald] Trump shares this perspective. Together, we will navigate these challenges.”
The G20 foreign ministers’ gathering, the first of its kind hosted on African soil, has spotlighted South Africa’s ambitious agenda centered on solidarity, equality, and sustainability. These themes, however, have drawn criticism from the new U.S. administration.
Ramaphosa, however, rejected such interpretations. “The absence of the Secretary of State is not a catastrophe. The United States is represented here, and they remain fully engaged in the G20 discussions. This is not a boycott.”
ARREST IN BAR SCANDAL
Shortly after the national outrage and the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development , Xola Nqola also noting with sadness the videos circulating on social media about events at ZanZou Bar Lounge in Pretoria, a suspect was arrested in Yeoville, Johannesburg..
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the man was arrested on Thursday evening with the assistance of Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department officials.
Mathe added that, while patrolling the area, police identified the man as one of the men in the videos a former Zanzou employee shared on social media.
The videos depict what is alleged to be the assault and compelled rape of patrons. The search continues for at least seven other suspects.
The videos show disproportionate abuse directed at black men. However, ZanZou management said the videos were old and were an extortion attempt by one of its security personnel.
Nqola said it was unclear why ZanZou’s management did not lay charges with the police when they first became aware of the incident. He called on law enforcement to get involved and not to rely on information related to them and out-of-context social media videos. – Fullview
THE POPE IS ILL
Pope Francis is “not out of danger” due to his age and fragile health, his medical team told journalists at the weekend.
During a Vatican press conference at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, both Dr. Sergio Alfieri, head of Gemelli Hospital’s medical team, and Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope’s referring doctor at the Vatican, said the 88-year-old Holy Father must remain in the hospital for “enhanced” treatment.
“The hospitalization will be as long as it takes for him to return safely to Santa Marta [his Vatican residence],” Alfieri told journalists. “He will stay here at least all next week. He is better, but the situation may change. Here at Gemelli, he is a very good patient.”
The Holy Father, according to Alfieri, asked him “to say that he is an old man with chronic diseases with the mind of a 50-year-old man” who wishes to continue his work caring for the universal Church.
“At 88 he is leading the Church and not sparing himself; he has become fatigued,” Alfieri said. “It has been possible to isolate microorganisms; there are viruses, myocytes, and bacteria [and] there are chronic diseases that can be contained.”
“The pope is not a quitter,” Carbone told journalists. – Catholic News Agency
