SA crime rate due to a leaderless police service – Solidarity

Trade union Solidarity today said the increase in serious crime should be laid at the door of a leaderless police service that failed to combat crime.

This comes after Police Minister Nathi Nhleko and National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega in Cape Town today announced the annual crime statistics. They contend that the rise in crime statistics should be attributed to taxi violence, drugs, illegal firearms and permits, illegal aliens, transit robberies as well as police killings and attacks on police officers.

Nearly 1,8 million crimes were reported to police stations in the 2014-’15 financial year, and there was a sharp rise in serious crimes such as murder and robbery. The murder rate increased by 4,6% bringing the total number of murders during this year to 17 805. This means that, on average, 49 South Africans are being killed daily. Robberies increased by 8,5%, while vehicle hijackings increased by 14,2%.

According to Solidarity spokesperson Juran van den Heever, the Minister and National Commissioner offer excuses such as taxi violence, social conditions and alcohol abuse for the increase in crime. “Clearly, there is no visible leadership in the SAPS, and functional mechanisms need to be put in place to prevent an annual rise in crime statistics,” Van den Heever said.

“What is even more worrying is that after the announcement Phiyega still indicated that the SAPS had a “good story to tell” despite the fact that the Police has failed to protect South Africans against crime during the past year,” Van den Heever added.

In light of those statistics the Solidarity Movement will launch its plans to promote community safety at its summit on the future which will be held on 10 October.

Issued by Juran van den Heever, Solidarity Spokesperson, 29 September 2015