AfriForum says specialist units contributed significantly to address crime

AfriForum says it is clear – from the crime statistics – that SAPS Specialist Units contributed sizably to the reduction and combatting of priority crimes in the past financial year. Reg Crewe, AfriForum Head of Community Safety, reacted to the release of the annual national crime stats by Police Minister, Nathi Mthethwa in Pretoria.

AfriForum is driving a strong campaign to have a specialist unit brought to life to tackle the scourge of farm attacks and farm murders, and started a countrywide petition for the prioritisation of farm attacks, “How long still?” on their website, but the Minister remains unwilling to listen.

According to Minister Mthethwa, 609 suspects were sentenced to 826 life sentences for sexual offences. The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) accounted for 499 of these convictions. Sexual assault had also reduced by 6.2%.

Crewe says that while the Minister is singing the praise of specialist units to the media and South Africa at large, it is time that he listens to what he is saying and implement it across the board.

Robbery, which had increased by 296.2% over a period of nine years, only reduced by 0.6% in the last financial year. Murder had increased by 0.6% over the 2012/2013 financial year.

“This means that all the current strategies are not working to reduce robbery and murder in society, and the police will have to relook the way they do business and it’s time that Minister Mthethwa step in where South Africans need intervention,” Crewe says.

Community members who wish to help AfriForum in addressing community safety issues can SMS the name of their town to 31336. (SMS charged at 50c)