The South African Human Rights Commission is encouraged by the decrease in reported crime as indicated in the crime statistics –covering the period 01 April 2007 – 30 September 2007 – that were released by the South African Police Service. The Commission, however, still finds the sheer numbers of offences committed to be at unacceptable levels, which proposition is further exacerbated by the massive underreporting of crime which scathingly speak to the continued mistrust and unwillingness of South African citizens to avail themselves to the protection of the state.

The Commission is specifically 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 statistics also shows encouraging signs with regard to decreases in burglaries at residential premises (down 7.9%), theft of motor vehicles (down 10%), and theft out of motor vehicles (down 13%). We, however, remain concerned at the increase of robberies and burglaries at business premises (up 29.3 % and 3.4% respectively). South Africans also still remain unsafe at their homes as robberies at residential premises had increase by 7% for the first six months of the current financial year.

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 heavily depend on police action for detection. The Human Rights Commission appreciates the good work of the South African Police Service with regard to their increased efficiencies in these categories of crime. It is also apparent from the released crime statistics that special initiatives undertaken by the police, like Operation Trio in Gauteng, are bearing fruit. Operation Trio has resulted in a 2.4% decrease in carjackings in Gauteng (KwaZulu-Natal showed a 8.6% increase over the same period), a 7.7% decrease in robberies at residential premises (KwaZulu-Natal showed a 32.5% increase), and only a 2.6% increase in robberies at business premises (KwaZulu-Natal showed a 71% increase, and the North West, the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape showed a 47.6%, 112.3% and a 168.5% increase respectively). These kinds of figures clearly show the need to share success stories and to replicate police efficiencies in the various provinces with the necessary changes to suit unique provincial circumstances.

Although the percentage decreases is encouraging, the South African Human Rights Commission remains disenchanted with the actual high numbers of crimes committed, especially with regard to contact crime. The gratuitous nature of these kinds of crimes clearly points to a serious lack of social cohesion which is mainly beyond the policing capability of the police. The Human Rights Commission, therefore, calls on all South Africans to live up to the spirit of our Constitution, by taking hands with our law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime, as we move towards a peaceful South Africa where respect for the bodily integrity, property and the dignity of others will prevail.

In conclusion, the Commission would like to re-emphasize the problem of underreporting of crime, and we call on the South African Police Service to double their efforts in making the police and Community Service Centers more user-friendly and service orientated, increase their professionalism in the investigation of crimes in order to allow more reported cases to make it to prosecution, and to honour their obligations under the Victims’ Charter to ensure that victims of crime are central and not subsidiary to the criminal justice system.

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Enquiries: Danzel van Zyl – Coordinator, SAHRC Crime and Human Rights Special Programme – 084 677 8222

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