By Sikelelwa Mfundisi
Photo by Google
On the 24 of August 2023, South Africa Statistic released a new data on crime, as compared to 2022/23, the amongst the crimes housebreaking, home robbery, and car theft have increased in the 12 months preceding the interview. Individual crimes have also increased, except for fraud and vehicle hijackings, which decreased.
It has been reported that the percentage of people at the age of 16 and older who feel comfortable walking alone in their neighbourhood in the daytime has decreased from 81.3% in 2021/22 to 80.8% in 2022/23, according to the Governance, Public Safety, and Justice Survey (GPSJS).
According to ActionSA’s head, Herman Mashaba, the crime numbers show how Cele has failed to improve South African communities’ criminal situation and they are left to fend for themselves.
Housebreaking is the most frequent crime that is endured by South African home, and it is estimated that the housebreaking occurrences impacted 1.1 million families in the years 2022-2023. According to the survey found the male-headed families endured housebreaking more than the female-headed families and homes in non-metro region. Since people are available when “home burglary” occurs, it is viewed as a fierce wrongdoing; conversely, “housebreaking” (burglary) happens when the family is away from the house.
“Statistics also show that police are making inroads in upscaling the protection of people’s properties. All property related crimes such as burglaries residential, burglary non-residential, stock theft, theft of motor vehicles and theft out of motor vehicles recorded significant declines”, said Minister Bheki Cele.
Knowing your neighbours will make you more likely to watch out for them or their property, and they will reciprocate. Strong communities are known to take care of one another. Regardless of whether there is formal “neighbourhood watches,” when neighbours get along well with one another, they will be more aware of who comes and goes from a house, giving their neighbour an extra set of eyes when they are away.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) describes social cohesion as a reduction of societal inequities, inequalities, and social exclusion, coupled with strengthening social relations and interactions.
According to the report, respondents were asked about their neighbourhood neighbours’ knowledge of them, whether they would ask them to watch their home if they were away, whether they trusted them with their children, and whether they would participate in forums where neighbourhood issues were discussed.
A persistent decline in crime figures indicates that the country is rapidly becoming a gangster state. Reforms in policy and leadership are urgently needed to reverse this trend.
Herman Mashaba added on an interview he had with Times Live that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s failure to acknowledge how abject Cele’s rule has been another proof that he is unable to make the wise choices necessary to improve South Africa. The reality is that Ramaphosa ought to have removed the police minister years ago, and he ought to do it right now.
There has not been much done to protect students from violent crimes, according to the DA. In an announcement, the party said it would ask lawmakers about the number of incidents involving students, teachers, and staff as well as the safety and security measures the basic education department has taken.
Reference list
Cele, B. (2023). Speeches | South African Government. [online] www.gov.za. Available at: https://www.gov.za/speeches/minister-bheki-cele%C2%A0release-quarter-one-crime-statistics-20232024-18-aug-2023-0000#:~:text=While%20the%20Northern%20Cape%20recorded. [18 Sept 2023]
https://www.facebook.com/BusinessTechSA (2022). The latest crime stats for South Africa – everything you need to know. [online] Businesstech.co.za. Available at: https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/711992/the-latest-crime-stats-for-south-africa-everything-you-need-to-know-1/. [18 Sept 2023]
Nkanjeni, U. (2023). ‘We’re not safe with Bheki Cele at the helm’ — Outrage over latest crime stats. [online] TimesLIVE. Available at: https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2023-05-31-were-not-safe-with-bheki-cele-at-the-helm-outrage-over-latest-crime-stats/ [18 Sept 2023].
POLICE RECORDED CRIME STATISTICS REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA. (2023). Available at: https://www.saps.gov.za/services/downloads/4th-Quarter-January%202023-March%202023.pdf. [18 Sept 2023]
Statssa.gov.za. (2023). Crime in South Africa up in 2022/23. [online] Available at: https://www.statssa.gov.za/?p=16562. [18 Sept 2023]