Cabinet weighs in on crime stats

In a statement released on Monday, 23 September 2013, after the executive's regular meeting, Cabinet once again reiterated its call for all South Africans to join the fight against crime.

"The release of South Africa's annual 2012/13 National Crime Statistics reaffirms our conviction that working together, we will reach our goal of a society that is free from crime, [and] that attracts investment, which ensures peace and stability in our communities," said the statement.

Cabinet urged all stakeholders to "constructively engage with the findings".

Speaking at the release of the stats last week Thursday, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said South Africa's overall crime rate continued to decline against the country's growing population.

There were 896,298 serious crime arrests in the 2012/13 financial year, compared to 777,140 during the 2011/12 reporting period.

Police convicted 352,513 people for serious crimes, while there were 307,580 convictions in 2011/12.

Contact crime decreased by 38.2% over nine years, 16% during the past four years and 4.2% during 2012/13.

While the murder rate decreased by 27.2% over nine years, with a further reduction of 16.6% during the past four years, there was a slight increase of 0.6% during 2012/13. There was an increase in attempted murder of 6.5% during the past financial year.

Mthethwa said the period had been characterised by growing unity in action against crime, with a focus on improving life conditions for all - especially the poor.

Crimes committed against women also decreased by 11.1 % to 175,880 when compared to the 2009/10 period, when there were 197,877 cases.

Mthethwa said rape had decreased by 3.3% in past four years and 0.4% in 2012/13. This number, he said, was still unacceptably high.

There was a 34.6% decrease in ATM bombings, from 399 cases to a reduction of 261 cases.

Government releases these statistics once a year primarily to provide the public with updated information on the fight against crime in the country, as well as to review of some of the current strategies in tackling crime. Crime statistics are also used daily as a management tool to guide operational plans for the South African Police Service (SAPS).