Fewer serious and violent crimes, but gender-based violence concerning – Police
Police minister announces general decrease in serious and violent crimes when comparing the first week of the lockdown to the same period in 2019.
Serious and violent crimes decreased when comparing the first week of the lockdown to the same period in 2019, according to government.
General Bheki Cele, National Police Minister, attributed this to factors such as the prohibition of the sale and movement of liquor during the nationwide lockdown.
Although the 2019/ 2020 national crime statistics are yet to be officially released, Minister Cele said this was a preliminary report that still needed to undergo the necessary verification and endorsements.
Analysing the crime and comparing the first week of the lockdown to the same period in 2019, Minister Cele confirmed that …
• murder cases dropped from 326 to 94;
• rape cases dropped from 699 to 101;
• cases of assault with intention to inflict grievous bodily harm dropped from 2 673 to 456; and
• trio crimes dropped from 8 853 to 2 098. Car/ truck hijacking, business robberies and house robberies, which are collectively grouped as trio crimes, are arguably the most violent crimes. The perpetrators are commonly armed with illegal firearms and they instil fear among citizens.
Regarding gender-based violence (GBV), Minister Cele confirmed that the number of complaints remained high and therefore concerning.
“Once all reports have been consolidated, the figures will be measured against the number of calls/ complaints received through the GBV Command Centre in 2019, where the figure stands at 87 920.”
When the State of Disaster was declared by the President on 15 March 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Minister Cele flagged the possible increase in gender-based and domestic violence cases as a concern.
The Minister at that time urged Police management to reinforce the FCS (Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences) Units at police stations to ensure that the police are ready and have the capacity to respond to related complaints.
“Considering the improved rate of life sentences secured by the FCS Units in the past, one is optimistic that police will continue to work around the clock towards securing successful convictions and long-term sentences of perpetrators of crimes against women and children.
This should remain the practice, even beyond the lockdown, as GBV remains a scourge across the country,” Minister Cele said.
He also welcomed the drop in the number of complaints against the police during the lockdown.
As we head into level 4 of lockdown, he warned that police, the South African National Defence Force, Metro Police and other law-enforcement agencies will remain on high alert to ensure maximum adherence to the lockdown Regulations.
