Parliament, Tuesday, 11 June 2025 – The Portfolio Committee on Police has noted with serious concern the omission of disaggregated data on crimes against women and children, specifically murder, attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), from the fourth quarter crime statistics for the 2024/25 financial year.
During its meeting on Wednesday, 11 June 2025, the committee requested an explanation for this omission. In response, the police indicated that although the summarised version of the statistics presented to the committee on 28 May 2025 did not contain this information, the “full complement of the report”, published on the SAPS website and released to the public on 23 May 2025, does include a breakdown of crimes against women and children.
This assertion is factually incorrect. A review of both the summarised and full versions of the fourth quarter crime statistics confirms that disaggregated data on crimes against women and children is not included. The committee has always been of the view that the credibility of statistics is dependent on the tabling of all crime statistics in full, which will drive the police response, especially in the context of the SAPS adopting a data-driven approach to policing.
The committee is deeply concerned by the absence of credible and complete data, as it significantly undermines efforts to assess the scope of violence against women and children and to develop effective, targeted interventions.
The presentation of inaccurate information to a parliamentary committee is a serious matter with far-reaching implications. Accordingly, the Chairperson of the committee, Mr Ian Cameron, has written to the Minister of Police and the National Commissioner of Police requesting a written report to be submitted by Friday, 20 June 2025. The report must account for the omission of disaggregated data in the latest crime statistics and explain the provision of inaccurate information to the committee during the meeting on 11 June 2025.
“Should a satisfactory response not be received, the committee will consider invoking its powers under the National Assembly Rules and the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, 2004, to summon the relevant officials to appear before the committee and give evidence under oath or affirmation to resolve the matter,” Mr Cameron said.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE, MR IAN CAMERON.
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