Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be writing to the Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, to demand the immediate release of the outstanding crime statistics to Parliament and the public, as required by law and established Cabinet practice, and to provide clarity on the reasons for the omissions and delays.
The DA is deeply concerned that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has yet to release the first quarter (Q1) crime statistics for the 2025/26 financial year, which were due at the end of August 2025.
The last set of crime stats was released on 23 May 2025. SAPS is both legally and constitutionally obligated to keep the public informed.
Crime statistics are not the property of SAPS or the Minister of Police — they belong to the people of South Africa. Transparent, consistent, and timely reporting is essential for communities, civil society organisations, and all spheres of government to respond to crime trends and hold SAPS accountable.
The deliberate delay in publishing the Q1 crime stats undermines transparency, erodes public trust in policing, and fuels suspicion that SAPS is withholding vital information at a time when violent crime remains at crisis levels. South Africans cannot be left in the dark about the realities of crime in their neighbourhoods while the state withholds information.
Our concern is further fuelled by the fact that in the previous quarter, statistics on crimes committed against women and children were omitted due to what SAPS described as a “system error.” This omission was both deeply troubling and unacceptable, as these are among the most vulnerable groups in society who deserve focused protection. The repeated failure to provide comprehensive and timely statistics raises serious questions about SAPS’s capacity and willingness to ensure accountability.
South Africans deserve the truth about the state of crime in their country — not secrecy, excuses, and further erosion of trust.
Regards
Lisa Schickerling MP
DA Spokesperson on Police