“Tomorrow’s release of the first quarter of 2022/23 crime statistics will sadly very likely prove what we experience and try to fight on ground-level,” said Ian Cameron, director of community safety at Action Society. “We expect to see a rise in murder, sexual offences and the trio crimes – carjacking, residential and non-residential robbery”.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) today announced that the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, will present the quarterly crime statistics reflecting reported crimes during the first quarter of the 2022/2023 financial year (1 April to 30 June) on Friday.
The previous first quarter report (April to June 2021) showed a murder rate of 5 760, a sexual offences rate of 12 702 and the rate of trio crimes at 15 747. The last quarter’s report (January to March 2022) showed a murder rate of 6 083 (up 323 from Q1), a sexual offences rate of 13 799 (up 1 079 from Q1) and the rate of trio crimes at 15 369 (down 378 from Q1).
“Just looking at the available statistics, we can see a steady increase in most crimes throughout the past year,” said Cameron. “From our community experience, we expect to see a continued upward trend.”
Adding the totals from the four quarters of 2020/21 puts South Africa’s annual murder rate at 24 865 – 2,88 murders per hour. The total sexual offences rate is 52 653 per year – 6,08 per hour.
“Statistics are simply a measurement of failure if we see no decline, and it means Minister Cele is not doing his job,” said Cameron.