Speaking at a New Age Business Breakfast briefing on Monday, Mthethwa said historical conditions and certain mind sets contributed to crime.
"Crime is becoming sophisticated, not only in South Africa but globally. This includes methods of communication, false documentation, travel, and electronic gadgets used for various purposes," he said.
Mthethwa said social partnerships need to be formed to complement the plans the Police have put in place to fight crime.
"The police force is striving to ensure that all people in South Africa are safe."
Mthethwa says there is a dire need for new regulations, including forensics, to fight crime and strengthen the police service.
"Policing for the future must be guided by the understanding that the crime landscape will continuously evolve. This will require the SAPS to remain innovative and adapt its policing approaches to respond to this changing environment."
The minister said they have started with the introduction of several initiatives to beef up the SAPS.
These include the introduction of DNA in solving crime, an imperative in law enforcement for serious crimes, as well as capacitating police officers by sending them back to school.
He said the police university, which will start with its first intake next year, will ensure professionalism within the SAPS.
The university, which will take over the Paarl SAPS Academy, will offer higher levels such as Honours, Masters and Doctorates over the years.
It will provide academic qualifications under the direct control with full autonomy of a partnering university and also allow for the instilling of discipline, police culture, patriotism, preservation of police culture and the professionalisation of police within a controlled police environment.
Mthethwa said they have started rethinking the policing sector by developing a white paper on crime.
Police have also stepped up their services by building 119 new police stations in order to cater for the needs of the growing society.
"The building of police stations is both the need of the people in urban and rural areas in the fight against crime and strengthening the police," said Mthethwa, adding that their intention is to create capacity and provide a professional service.
SAPS were also looking at introducing rural safety committees in all provinces.
However, he called on communities to partner with police, adding that policing cannot fight crime alone especially in protecting women, children, and old people.
"Collectively, we have a duty to translate our words into actions so that we can improve policing and ensure that citizens are safe and feel safe. Sometimes we falter when we don't work together in the fight against crime."
The minister sent a stern warning to those who commit crime. "Those who have committed a crime, no matter how big or small, will be arrested. There is nobody who will be feared by the SA police."
Responding to questions about police abusing power, the police management said this was a worldwide phenomenon.
National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega said they were also working at establishing a new Integrity Management Unit, which she said, will monitor the SAPS to ensure they don't over step the mark.
She said they have started with initiatives to ensure that they modernise the SAPS such as the introducing mobile police stations and increasing technology systems, among others.
With regards to the Czech fugitive and businessman Radovan Krejcir's arrest, Mthethwa said government is in the process of working with Home Affairs to deport him; however they would first make sure that he is accountable for his atrocities.
He said they want Krejcir to face all allegations in SA. "Him [sic] and any other person will be pursued until the end."
Krejcir will appear in the Alberton Magistrate's Court today on charges of kidnapping, assault to do grievous bodily harm and attempted murder. Krejcir and one of his associates were arrested on Friday night, following an intensive investigation by a multi-disciplinary police team into an incident that occurred in June.
Meanwhile, with regards to the publishing of pictures of President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla home, Mthethwa said government has no problem with the media publishing pictures of National Key Points, as it is part of their daily line of duty.
"There wouldn't be any suppression of the media. Nkandla pictures have been in the media for some time... it is the security features that we are worried about," added Mthethwa.
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