The head of police crime research and statistics, Norman Sekhukhune, says in a presentation on the country’s crime statistics for the above-mentioned period to Parliament’s Police Portfolio Committee on Thursday, that when they add the number of murders committed on Mondays to the weekend figures, they find that 70% of the total crimes occur between Friday and Monday.

When police probe the 14 496 over weekends further, they find “3 567 of those murders happened between Saturday 21:00 pm and Sunday 03:00 am. That might be an indicator that during those periods there is high alcohol and drug-related abuse”, says the crime research head. Sekhukhune was joined by National Police Commissioner Khehla Sitole, and Police Minister Bheki Cele, who express concern at the 3,4% rise in the murder rate. South Africa’s murder rate has risen annually since the 2012/13 financial year.

While the situation is bleak at a national level, Central South Africa has seen some improvements. The Free State and Northern Cape’s murder rate declined by more than 5%, while the North West’s murder rate increased by 1,2%. The vast majority of weapons used in murders is guns, knives, and sharp objects.

OFM News