/ 11 May 2002

One million unsolved cases… and counting

THE police hoped to reopen about one million unsolved criminal cases by the end of the year, the new Safety and Security Minister, Charles Nqakula, said on Friday.

This would be achieved by improvements to the police’s science laboratory, DNA testing methods and an updated computerised finger-printing system, he told the National Press Club in Pretoria.

”Those criminals who have been sitting smug in the belief that the crimes they committed will never be solved, have a surprise coming,” he said.

”We will ensure that everyone who commits a crime in this country… will take responsibility for what they do.”

He said about 30 000 new law enforcers would be appointed in the next three years.

A total of 71 000 would be recruited from next month. About 1 000 of them would be civilians, focusing on administrative work.

On top of this, some 24 000 new policemen and women would be employed to step up visible policing in crime trouble spots, Nqakula said. – Sapa