There needs to be a complete overhaul of the SA Police Service so that it is fit for purpose to deal with the extremely high levels of crime, Amnesty International South Africa said today following the release of the crime statistics.
“The murder rate in South Africa is at an alarmingly high level with an average of 69 people being killed a day from January to March 2023,” Amnesty International South Africa Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed said.
Murder overall increased by 28.5% since 2019.
“We can no longer allow violent crimes to continue with impunity. The justice system has to act as a deterrent, and the first step is ensuring that the police can conduct thorough, efficient and transparent investigations into all killings, and ensure that the perpetrators are charged in accordance with the law.”
The statistics show that murders of women have also increased by 7.9% and attempted murder by a shocking 21.5% compared to the same reporting period of the previous year.
The murder of children may have dropped by 19.9% this quarter compared to the same quarter last year, but the attempted murder of children has gone up by 8.8%.
“The continued onslaught against women and children in South Africa is shameful. The country has a lot of plans, we have a lot of rhetoric, we have a lot of statements being made by the President and by government officials and we have three new gender-based violence (GBV) laws but we are seeing that no-one is safe, especially women and children,” Mohamed said.
“The government must comply with both its own constitutional and international human rights obligations to do more to protect women and children in this country.
“If the government continues failing to create a safe environment for all, it is violating the right to life and security of the person, and must be held accountable. The buck stops with the government.”
Background
Minister of Police Bheki Cele announced the Q4 (January to March 2023) crime statistics on 30 May 2023.
Amnesty International South Africa made a submission on the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill on 18 May 2023. Read it here.
For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Mienke Steytler, Media and Communications Officer (Maternity Cover), Amnesty International South Africa: +27 (0) 64 890 9224; mienke.steytler@amnesty.org.za
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Public Document
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