The biggest population of foreign nationals engaged in crime in South Africa hailed from neighbouring Zimbabwe and Mozambique, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula told journalists on Tuesday.
He also said the violent nature of crime in the country is to be investigated as part of a revamped crime-fighting plan.
During a media briefing in Pretoria, Nqakula also provided further details of the strategy endorsed by the Cabinet at its lekgotla last week.
He said the the JCPS [justice, crime prevention and security Cabinet cluster] was ”worried” about the violent nature of crime.
”Cabinet has endorsed a recommendation to commission a study on the matter by the Institute for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation.
”Draft terms of reference are being formulated for presentation to Cabinet,” he said.
In the next six months, the police and other law enforcement agencies would concentrate their effort on organised crime, especially organised aggravated robbery.
The agencies were working together with Business Against Crime, the South African Banking Council and the South African Reserve Bank to improve security measures to curb aggravated robbery.
Special teams had been established in the provinces to deal with organised crime, while other teams would concentrate on finding suspects against whom there were outstanding warrants of arrest.
”Our intelligence units have been put on alert to gather relevant information to facilitate investigations,” Nqakula said.
He said these units would also receive increased funding and human resources.
Criminals involved in organised crime operated in units of small and large groups from all over South Africa as well as across the borders.
A list had been compiled of about 250 individuals who were part of organised aggravated robberies.
Many of these were repeat offenders, with some individuals facing up to 95 charges each, he said.
There were at least 2 899 foreigners, sentenced and awaiting trial, who were arrested for serious and violent crimes (1 310), commercial crimes (879), drugs (314), sexual offences (161), and common robberies (235).
These criminals hailed from across the globe, but were largely from Zimbabwe and Mozambique, said Nqakula.
”There are 84 959 inmates in our correctional detention centres for serious and violent crimes, including murder.”
Almost a third were unsentenced inmates, whose cases were still before the courts.
Police would also continue to deal with social fabric crimes of a serious and violent nature, including murder, serious assault and rape.
About 70 to 80% of all murders were a consequence of social crime, with alcohol and substance abuse at its core, Nqakula said.
Most murders, attempted murders, rapes, attempted rapes and serious assaults happened over weekends.
Combating such crime needed effective community involvement and efforts were under way to mobilise communities against crime.
A recent analysis of 9 623 dockets indicated that in 81,5% of the murders the perpetrators were known to the victims and in 46% of those cases the perpetrators were relatives, friends or acquaintances of the victims.
The figures for serious and violent assault indicated that in 89,1%. of cases the perpetrators were known to the victim (72,9% were relatives, friends or acquaintances), while in 75,9% of rape cases the perpetrators were known to the
victims (57% being relatives, friends or acquaintances of the victims).
”The cases are difficult to investigate because of the relationship between victims and perpetrators where levels of intimidation and family pressures are very high. Many of the cases, consequently, are withdrawn and do not reach court,” he said.
All border control measures were also being reviewed to deal with cross-border crime.
A national border control and security strategy had been finalised and a national border control centre established to house the project.
All requirements regarding personnel, information, communications and technology as well as security infrastructure would be in place by the end of August.
Nqakula said the national response to crime included mobilising communities to participate in an anti-crime strategy involving civil society, including various religious denominations. – Sapa