299 POLICE OFFICERS MURDERED IN 3 YEARS

According to the Minister of Police, Mr. Nathi Mthethwa, 299 members of the Police were murdered between 1 April 2008 until 31 March 2011 and 4 341 members died. He was replying to a question in Parliament by Mr. Pieter Groenewald of the Freedom Front Plus (see below). From 1 January until 31 May this year, 13 members of the Police died while performing their duty, 15 members committed suicide and 57 died from unnatural causes.

"Although the number of murders of Police members since 2008 had declined annually from 105 (2008/2009) to 93 (201/2011), it is worrying that so many members are being murdered. Circumstances of the murders differ but better training is necessary to prevent the murder of Police members.

What is also disconcerting is that 15 members of the Police have committed suicide this year. A proper investigation has to be undertaken into this matter as the number of suicides indicate that members are under extreme pressure and exposed to abnormal circumstances but do not receive the proper psychological assistance," says Mr. Pieter Groenewald (MP), chief spokesperson on Police for the Freedom Front Plus.

Statement issued by Pieter Groenewald, MP, FF Plus chief spokesperson on police, July 26 2011

36/1/4/1/201100112

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 1561

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 10 JUNE 2011

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 15- 2011)

Date reply submitted: 25 July 2011

1561.  Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Police:

(1) How many members of the SA Police Service died (a) in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009 and (iii) 2010 and (b) during the period 1 January 2011 up to the latest specified date for which information is available (aa) in the line of duty, (bb) in family violence, (cc) on account of suicide and (dd) because of unnatural causes;

(2) whether he will make a statement on the matter?

NW1728E

REPLY:

(1) (a) The number of members of the SAPS who died during:

(i) 1 April 2008 until 31 March 2009: 1 451 of which 105 were murdered

(ii) 1 April 2009 until 31 March 2010: 1 422 of which 101 were murdered

(iii) 1 April 2010 until 31 March 2011: 1 468 of which 93 were murdered

(b) The number of members of the SAPS who died during 1 January until 31 May 2011:

(aa) In the line of duty: 13

(bb) Please note that we do not have such a category in the SAPS

(cc)   as a result of suicide: 15

(dd)  as a result of unnatural causes: 57

(2) I have and will continue to make statements on this issue

Reply to question 1561 approved by the Minister

Issued by Parliament, July 26 2011

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