The sheer number of crimes being committed in South Africa is still at an unacceptable level, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said on Friday.
The decrease in reported crime, however, is encouraging, the SAHRC said.
The rights body said its finding on the unacceptable level of crime is ”exacerbated by the massive under-reporting of crime, which scathingly speaks to the continued mistrust and unwillingness of South African citizens to avail themselves to the protection of the state.”
The commission is concerned by the increase in robberies at business premises (up 29,3%) and burglaries at business premises (up 3,4%).
Also of concern was the increase of residential robberies (up 7%). The commission said that South Africans ”still remain unsafe at their homes”.
The SAHRC also said it was ”encouraged by the decrease in contact crimes committed, most notably murder [down 6,5%], attempted murder [down 7,6%], common robbery [down 12,2%] and robbery with aggravating circumstance [down 9,7%].”
The SAHRC remained ”disenchanted with the actual high numbers of crimes committed, especially with regard to contact crime”.
The commission found encouraging the decrease in burglaries at residential premises [down 7,9%], theft of motor vehicles [down 10%] and theft out of motor vehicles [down 13%].
It said that the ”increase in drug-related crimes and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs should most probably be ascribed to more vigilance and increased police activities as these crimes depend heavily on police action for detection.”
The SAHRC said it ”appreciates the good work of the South African Police Service with regard to their increased efficiencies in these categories of crime”.
It also said that it is ”apparent from the released crime statistics that special initiatives undertaken by the police, like Operation Trio in Gauteng, are bearing fruit”.
The commission noted the impact of police initiatives in Gauteng and compared the decreases found in this province to massive increases in crimes it found specifically in KwaZulu-Natal, North West, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape.
The commission said that there is a need ”to replicate police efficiencies in the various provinces with the necessary changes to suit unique provincial circumstances”. — Sapa