The figures, released annually, show a decrease in the number of most serous crimes, but South Africa is still a violent country
For the first time in the history of the South African Police Service, established in 1994, the murder rate in the country has fallen below 17,000 a year. This figure was revealed at the beginning of September 2010, when the SA Police made public crime statistics for the period from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.
In that period, the number of murders in South Africa stood at 16,834, which is 8.6 percent lower than previous year’s 18,148. That means that the South Africa’s murder rate is officially down to 34.1 murders per 100,000 people. The police officials say that, while the drop is significant, the murder rate is still too high, as high as in the most violent places in the world, including war zones. When broken down by age, there are some categories, for example young men, with a murder rate of more than 100 per 100,000.
During the period under scrutiny, the police recorded about 2.1 million serious crime cases nationwide. According to security experts, the statistics indicate that criminals had moved on to less risky illegal undertakings, because the police are focusing on what is referred to as trio crimes – hijackings, business robberies and house robberies, all of which are often highly violet.
The figures show that Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal are the most crime-ridden provinces, especially in respect of murder and carjacking. Police officials say that Gauteng accounts for roughly half of South Africa's crime. Sandton in Johannesburg, Gauteng, a suburb regarded as affluent, has one of the highest rates of house robbery in South Africa. On the other hand, the poverty-stricken township of KwaMashu north of Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, is South Africa's murder capital. With estimated population of 500,000, KwaMashu had 235 murders last year. “Greed and drunkenness” are cited as the main triggers of murders: many of the residents are unemployed, and taverns are open 24 hours a day.
For years now, South African authorities do not release short-term crime statistics; instead, they make public aggregate figures only once a year. That is why the recently released data does not take into account the apparent lull the country enjoyed during the Football World Cup 2010, held in nine South African cities in June and July 2010, nor the subsequent apparent rise in crime.
If one is to rely on media reports, South Africa as it was during the World Cup and South Africa as it is after the World Cup are, crime-wise, two totally different places. That perception is confirmed by an unofficial investigation conducted by the local daily newspaper Beeld. According to Beeld, during the World Cup, which ran from 11 June to 11 July 2010, there 12 violent crime incidents (farm attacks, home robberies and murders). From July 12 to the end of August, there 42 such incidents were reported.
The paper also cites one security firm, which claims that during the World Cup crime dropped in the west of Johannesburg by 70 percent and by 60 percent in the east of Johannesburg. Armed robberies and home robberies dropped by 37 percent and 31 percent respectively. Subsequently, the crime levels increased in most of the areas the security company covers.
Security experts say that the recipe to fighting crime is not a secret. It takes adequate resources, increased police visibility, manpower and a good morale among officers. The decrease in crime during the World Cup, they say, can be attributed to: the establishment of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints); the creation of task teams in the host cities; the setting up of 56 special courts that worked round the clock; the R1.3 billion budget; the availability of 60,000 extra police officers; and the cancellation of all leaves for police officers.
Thanks to the relative calm that reigned during the World Cup, South Africa can expect improved crime statistics next year. The challenge is to avoid sinking to the pre-World Cup levels. When they released the 2009/2010 statistics, South African Police Services representatives also announced the police's “war plan” on clime, which includes officials visiting crime hot spots for two days a month to enforce new and innovative policing methods intended to curb crime.
The official results will be known this time next year.
Image source: SAPS Photo Album
Also see: South African Police Service Web Site
