Organised crime causes more harm to the national psyche than other offences, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula said on Friday.
Surveys have shown that 80% of murders are committed by people known to the victims within a social environment, he told a media briefing at Parliament.
However, murders resulting from organised crimes have a greater impact on the population at large. ”The murders that dramatically affect the psyche of the nation are those that flow from organised crime,” Nqakula said.
In many cases these crimes are committed in daylight on highways, around banks and in shopping malls. ”Some bystanders have even been killed in the crossfire.”
A sustained campaign against organised crime, launched in July last year, had led to 8 347 arrests in connection with 10 085 cases across the country, Nqakula said.
Referring to crime prevention in general, he said community policing forums will be revamped to help determine where resources need to be prioritised.
More reservists will also be recruited with the emphasis on obtaining people with expert skills such as doctors and helicopter pilots.
He hopes to recruit 100 000 reservists to increase police visibility in high-crime areas. — Sapa