Parliament, Thursday, 1 June 2023 – The Portfolio Committee on Police has welcomed the investment made by the Ministry of Police to fund community police forums as a necessary intervention in the fight against crime. Yesterday, the committee did a thorough analysis of the fourth quarter crime statistics released by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
While the general crime picture is worrying, the committee welcomes SAPS’ commitment of R70 million for community policing, which should give much-needed energy to the collaboration between the police and communities in the fight against crime. The committee considers a societal approach to crime fighting the only solution to South Africa’s rampant crime problem.
The committee remains concerned about the high murder rate, which increased by 3.4% in comparison to the fourth quarter of the 2021/22 financial year. These worrying figures are further compounded by the 8.3% increase in attempted murder. While the committee welcomed the slight decrease in sexual offences, it remains concerned that 13 205 cases were reported in just three months. “It is these kinds of figures that give us sleepless nights and an investment into community-based policing means we will tackle the problem from the ground,” said Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, the Chairperson of the committee.
Meanwhile, the committee emphasised the need to find solutions to the causal factors for these crimes, including dismantling organised commercial criminal elements, intensifying the fight against gender-based violence, intensifying operations to remove illegal firearms from the streets and increasing collaboration with communities to fight crime.
The committee believes that commercial interests are the main driver of criminal activity such as cable theft, illegal mining, the illicit cigarette trade and drug trafficking. The committee urged the police to find strategies and solutions to defeat the demand side of these crimes to deal generally with the enablers of these crimes.
The proliferation of taverns and general substance abuse has also directly contributed to the increase in contact crimes. The committee has reiterated the call made for engagement with liquor boards to enhance stringent measures when acquiring liquor licences. For example, in Kimberley a population of just over 80 000 has 129 taverns, a situation conducive for high contact crimes.
Regarding the proliferation of illegal firearms on the streets, the committee emphasised that all efforts must be invested in reducing this proliferation. To this end, the committee welcomed improvements at the Central Firearms Register, which has seen a decline in the backlog in applications for firearm licences. Operations such as Okae Molao in Gauteng should be adoptedacross the country to ensure effective and efficient crime fighting.
The committee is also concerned about the increase in kidnappings around the country. This trend is worrying, as it has direct links to kidnapping for ransom and human trafficking,which should be stopped. The committee has called for incisive and focused action against perpetrators.
The committee welcomed the opportunity to interact with SAPS provincial commissioners as it presented an opportunity to interact and share instances of best practice. The committee remains committed to inviting all MECs for Safety from all nineprovinces to find workable solutions to the high crime rate.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON POLICE, MS TINA JOEMAT-PETTERSSON.
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