AfriForum notes crime stats “with grave concern”

AfriForum has expressed concern about the 2018/2019 crime statistics released by police on Thursday.

“The media is riddled with negative articles on the poor state of the police,” Marnus Kamfer AfriForum legal and risk manager said.

“Police lost over 9,5 million rounds of ammunition and 4 357 firearms over the past six financial years.

“They were also instructed by national treasury to reduce their budget by five percent (R5 billion), six percent (R6,5 billion) and 7 percent (R7,8 billion) in the next three financial years.”

Kamfer said only police minister Bheki Cele and president Cyril Ramaphosa were “generally shocked and surprised by facts long known to other South Africans”.

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“Police had five different national commissioners over the past 10 years,” he said.

“Ordinary police officers are daily victims of a failing government and police service leadership.

“A lack of ammunition to complete their firearms competency and a lack of rape-kits at police stations were only the most recent examples of how their important work is being sabotaged by an uncaring, incompetent department and top management.”

Kamfer said communities had no other option left but to organise themselves in neighbourhood watches to protect themselves.

“AfriForum’s 142 neighbourhood watches are great examples of how communities can organise themselves and work together with other role-players, including the SAPS at station level, to ensure a safer environment and a decrease in crime.”

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