According to the crime statistics report released by the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, the Free State recorded the most incidents of rape in the country with 24 out of every 100 000 women being victims of this crime.

“The high number of rape cases in this province in the past quarter indicates serious shortcomings in the protection of women in the Free State,” says Armand Cloete, FF Plus MPL in the Free State, in a media release.

According to the latest report, sexual assault has increased by 32.7% in the same period.

“The fact that drug-related crimes in the Free State have risen by 16.2% also shows that the police are currently losing the battle against drugs,” Cloete indicates.

According to Cloete, the FF Plus is not convinced that a decrease of 9.4% in livestock theft in the province paints a true picture of what is experienced in rural areas.

“It could be that farmers have lost their trust in the police and simply no longer report livestock theft, as investigations often do not lead to prosecution,” he argues.

However, he emphasised that the FF Plus in the portfolio committee for community security insists that the national rural security strategy in the Free State be implemented and reviewed.

“Authorities must not stare blindly at cold data. There must be a focus on real changes through police officers who fulfill their duties with dedication, police offices that function effectively, and sufficient resources (such as vehicles) to better combat crime,” concludes Cloete.