Crime stats ‘not as alarming as the previous quarter‘s figures‘ according to police minister

The latest quarter two crime statistics painted a less alarming picture of crime figures in the country compared to those of the previous quarter when there were no lockdown restrictions, police minister Bheki Cele said.

“These figures are certainly not reflecting a crime holiday, but they are neither as alarming as the previous quarter figures which were skewed as figures of a period that had no lockdown restrictions were compared to a period where the country was placed under hard lockdown,” he said.

Cele released the crime statistics recorded between July 1 and September 30, 2021, when the country went through levels four, three and two of lockdown.

The figures recorded were compared to the corresponding period in the 2019/2020 financial year when the country went through levels three, two and one of lockdown.

An increase of 20,7% in the number of murders was recorded during the period of reporting.

A total of 6 163 people were killed during this period, which was 1 056 more people compared to the corresponding period in the previous financial year.

“However, when compared to the previous normal period of the 2019/2020 financial year, a period of no lockdown, the murder percentage change would have been a 13,2% increase.”

Cele also noted that compared to a period without a lockdown, 717 more people could have been killed.

The increase in the number of murders that were recorded was related to the unrest which took place in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in the month of July.

“While the crime picture painted here is not ideal, it is certainly getting better with time planning and deployment of resources where they are needed most,” Cele said.