Crime statistics: Women and children increasingly victimised in violent crime

19 August 2022

According to the police's latest crime statistics released today, the murder rate in South Africa for the second quarter (April to June) of this year is the highest it has been in the past five years, and violent crime against women and children increased sharply.

A total of 6 424 people were murdered in the second quarter of this year (11 out of 100 000) compared to 5 760 last year, which is an increase of 11,5%. It is also an increase of 5,61% compared to the first quarter of this year.

The murder of women increased with 53,2% (in comparison to the corresponding quarter last year) and the murder of children with 46,4%.

Other violent crimes against women and children also rose sharply. There has been an increase of 31,4% in the attempted murder of women and 54,7% in assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

There has been an even greater spike in the figures when it comes to children, with assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm increasing with 58,4%, while attempted murder increased with 57,4%.

Most of the incidents (13 799), which include murder, attempted murder and serious assault, occurred either in the victim's or the attacker's home.

In general, serious contact crimes, like attempted murder, increased with 8,4% (5 576 incidents compared to 5 145 last year) and robbery with aggravating circumstances with 4% (35 233 compared to 33 876).

Compared to the same period last year, incidents of serious contact crimes and sexual offences were somewhat less. The reality, however, is that over the past five years, there has been a gradual increase in this type of crime in nearly all cases.

The slight decrease in sexual offences, where women and children are usually the victims, is welcomed. The FF Plus still wants to encourage victims to step forward, though.

Serious problems with, among other things, the DNA tests conducted by the police's laboratories have had a great impact on the finalisation of court cases and the prosecution of sexual offenders.

The extent of the role this plays in victims losing all hope and opting not to report incidents remains unclear.

Another alarming cause for concern is that the feared trio crimes, which include robberies at residential premises and hijackings, have increased with 4,9%. A total of 16 517 incidents were reported in the second quarter of this year, compared to 14 747 last year.

The number of hijackings rose sharply with 5 866 incidents compared to 5 146 last year.

During this same time, 5 370 robberies at residential premises took place in comparison to 5 346 last year.

Another alarming trend is the constant, sharp rise in kidnappings. In the second quarter of this year, it increased with 59,1% (3 550), compared to last year's 2 232. In the first quarter of this year, it had increased with 109,2% compared to last year’s figures.

Clearly, a strategy to address this is urgently needed.

There was a slight levelling off in the number of farm murders with 10 victims compared to 14 victims last year. In the first three months of this year, 12 murders were reported.

I previously asked for the number of farm attacks to be indicated as well, but that did not happen, so, I will follow up on it in Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police.

The decrease in farm murders is welcomed. It demonstrates that rural communities have intensified their own security measures.

Research indicates that only 27% of the public still trusts the police. Ultimately, the ANC government's incompetence has rendered the police service ineffective and the criminal justice system full of holes.

Issued by Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus leader, 19 August 2022