MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / ‘Victims’ Report Show Rising Insecurity

‘Victims’ Report Show Rising Insecurity

Dear Editor

The latest Victims of the Crime Report presented by StatsSA show that the problem of increasing crime in South Africa continues unabated, especially in housebreaking, theft, assault, and street robbery.

The report highlights the rising levels of insecurity in the country with, for instance, respondents indicating that they feel unsafe walking at night increasing from 52.8% in 2019/20 to 65.1% in 2023/24. The share of those who feel unsafe during the day rose from 13.4% in 2019/20 to 19.6% in 2023/24. The report also points to under-reporting of crimes, meaning that the actual prevalence of crime could be even higher than estimated.

However, the Victims of Crime Report is survey-based and therefore not an official crime rate report based strictly on reported crimes. The official statistics that have not yet been published are crucial in order to have a complete picture of the crime situation in the country.

The Ministry of Police’s failure to release these statistics, especially the reports for Quarter 4 of the 2023/2024 financial year and Quarter 1 of the 2024/2025 financial year (which has been outstanding since May 2024), is a clear indication that the Ministry of Police and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have much work to do in bettering its transparency and accountability mechanisms.

The DA has consistently called for the immediate release of these overdue crime statistics, emphasising that South Africans deserve to be fully informed about the state of crime in their country. The cabinet’s recent commitment to release these statistics by the end of August 2024, with subsequent reports scheduled for November 2024, February 2025, and May 2025, is a step in the right direction. However, the DA remains vigilant and insists on a clear, pre-release calendar to ensure timely and transparent communication from the Ministry.

It is essential that Minister Mchunu addresses the delays and provides the public with the outstanding reports without further procrastination. The time has come for the Ministry to restore confidence among South Africans by being forthright and transparent about crime statistics, a matter that directly impacts the daily lives of millions.

Regards

Lisa Shickerling MP
DA Deputy Spokesperson on Police

Category: Tag:

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Fun South African fact

    Dear Editor Fun South African fact: towns like Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are home to world-class wine farms set in stunning, scenic surroundings. Regards Aressa Smith In Response to/From: Luxury Properties Seized in New Lottery Crackdown

  • Condolences on the Passing of Lusanda Dumke

    Statement by Leander Kruger MPL – DA Buffalo City Constituency Leader: The Democratic Alliance in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality mourns the passing of Springbok Women’s rugby player and Mdantsane trailblazer, Lusanda Dumke, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 28. South Africa has lost an exceptional athlete, a leader, and a source…

  • Rape Kits Delivered, But…

    Statement by Nicholas Gotsell MP – DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice: The DA can confirm that 2 840 rape kits arrived in Cape Town on Monday, following sustained DA oversight and pressure after multiple police stations across the Western Cape were found to be without this critical forensic evidence tool. While this delivery…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Fun South African Fact: It’s believed that Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain is one of the oldest mountains in the world. Table mountain is approximately 260 million years old; it’s also home to thousands of species of plant life, including species unique to the Cape Floral Region. The glorious mountain is one of the world’s 7 New Natural Wonders. It is also apparently one of 12 main energy centres on the planet emitting spiritual, magnetic, and electric energies. It’s an idyllic and very popular hiking destination with hundreds of routes to explore.