Sexual violence and farm attack stats highlight how Cele is failing vulnerable groups
22 August 2021
The latest quarterly crime statistics released by the Minister of Police Bheki Cele for the period 1 April to 30 June 2021, is an indictment on him and the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The Minister today sought to whitewash these figures by stating that they were “high and unnatural” as a result of the lockdown. However, the prevalence of violent crime is still shocking and abnormal.
The murder rate is up by 60.2%, with a total of 5 760 people losing their lives during this period. Contact crimes saw a 60.6% increase and aggravated robberies went up by a staggering 92.2%.
During the period of April to June, there were 181 attacks on farms and small holdings which resulted in 15 murders. There were 47 more attacks compared to the same period last year. The need for visible, boots on the ground policing in rural areas is critical to ensure the safety of these communities.