Murder up in crime stats

This was revealed by Minister of Police, Nkosinathi Nhleko at the 2013/14 Crime Stats briefing in Pretoria on 19 September. Nhleko said there was a decrease in sexual offences, stock theft and commercial crime. 

Nhleko said the crimes reported consisted of 20 categories. 

National Police Commissioner General Riah Phiyega announced the statistics.

•  Murder showed a five percent increase in the 2013/14 financial year. @SAPoliceService tweeted a graph depicting this increase.

•  Robbery with aggravating circumstances increased by 12.7 percent in 2013/14. This includes bank robberies which increased from seven incidents in the 2012/13 financial year to 21 in 2013/14.

•  There were 145 reported incidents of of cash-in-transit robberies between the 2012/13 and 2013/14 financial years. This saw the statistics stabilise in 2013/14 after there was a decrease of 59.5 percent over a five year period.

•  Common robbery increased by 0.6 percent during the 2013/14 year.

•  Attempted murder also decreased by 30.2 percent over the past 10 years but increased by 4.6 percent in the 2013/14 financial year.

•  Assault that inflicted grievous bodily harm decreased by 26.5 percent over the past 10 years and 3.3 percent decrease was seen in the 2013/14 financial year.

•  Sexual crimes saw a 5.6 percent decrease and rape showed a decrease of 6.3 percent during the 2013/2014 financial year.

•  Property related crimes (including housebreaking, residential and other premises, theft of vehicle or motorcycle or out of motor vehicle and stock theft) decreased by 0.2 percent in 2013/14.

•  Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, which increased by 3.7 percent in 2013/14 financial year.

•  Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol increased by 133.1 percent over 10 years but showed a 1.8 percent decrease in 2013/14.

•  Drug related crime statistics increased by 26.1 percent.

•  Trio crimes (relating to personal safety and business, house robbery, business robbery and carjacking) increased 10.8 percent in the 2013/14 financial year.

•  Carjacking increased by 12.3 percent increase in 2013/14.

•  Truckjacking increased by 5.1 percent increase in 2013/14.

•  Business robbery increased by 13.7 percent in 2013/14.

• House robbery saw a 7.4 percent increase in 2013/14.

•  Commercial crime decreased by 13.6 percent in 2013/14.

•  Contact-related crimes: Arson decreased by 4.2 percent in 2013/14 and malicious damage to property decreased by 1.1 percent.

Nhleko said engagement on crime was needed in order to activate society to become part of the fight against crime and corruption. Added to this, he wanted to see an improvement in police services at police stations.