“Robberies at residential homes, as the crime most feared by South Africans, increased by 3,6% according to the latest crime statistics. Burglaries at residential homes increased by 3,3% (253 633 incidents) and car hijackings by 5,4%. It is precisely at one’s home and on the way to work where people want to feel safe. The public therefore has reason to feel unsafe and is experiencing crime to be increasing,” Dr. Pieter Groenewald, the Freedom Front Plus’ chief spokesperson on Police said.
“What is also worrying is that of the 1 833 775 serious crimes which had been reported, there had only been 352 513 successful prosecutions. It is only a 19% successful prosecution rate. This means that the criminal justice system in South Africa has serious defects and is failing the public,” Groenewald said.
“Murder has increased by 0,6% but the fact that 16 259 people are murdered, means that there is a five times more likely chance for a person to be murdered in South Africa than anywhere else in the world where the average is 6 for every 100 000 people. Attempted murder has increased by 6,5% (16 363) which means that South Africa still remains a dangerous country,” Groenewald says.
The Freedom Front Plus welcomes the decline in crime against women and children and in crimes such as assault.