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6 December 2007

Today, at a media briefing in Pretoria, the crime statistics for the period 1 April to 30 September 2007 were released by the Minister for Safety and Security, Mr Charles Nqakula, and top management of the South African Police Service.

When the crime figures for this six month period were compared to those recorded during the same period (that is April to September) during 2006, the following findings were made:

* Most of the contact-related, property-related and other serious crime trends experienced decreases.
* Eight serious crimes are grouped together as "contact crime". These offences, which account for 32,5 percent of South Africa's recorded crime are murder, attempted murder, rape, assault grievous bodily harm (GBH), common assault, indecent assault, aggravated robbery and other robbery.
* Seven of the eight contact crimes decreased by between 2 percent and 12,3 percent during the six month period under review. These decreases are as follows:

* Murder: 6,6 percent
* Rape: -3,6 percent
* Attempted murder: 7,6 percent
* Assault GBH: -2,8 percent
* Common assault: -5,1 percent
* Aggravated robbery: -9,7 percent
* Common Robbery: -12,3 percent.

Murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and common robbery all decreased within or almost within the 7 to 10 percent reduction targets during the first semester of the 2007/08 financial year.

The only increase recorded in contact crimes was in relation to the crime of indecent assault, which increased by 3,5 percent. There was an overall decrease of 5,1 percent in contact crimes (in real figures)

The contact crime of aggravated robbery, which increased by 4,6 percent during the 2006/07 financial year, has shown a decrease of -9,7 percent in the April to September 2007 period.

Aggravated robbery is however disaggregated into the following sub-categories which, together, make up the trend of aggravated robbery:

* street/public robbery: -15,2 percent
* carjacking: -0,7 percent
* house robbery: + 7,0 percent
* business robbery: +29,3 percent
* truckjacking: +53,3 percent
* Corporate Income Tax robbery: -26,7 percent
* Bank robbery: -11,7 percent.

The South African Police Service remains concerned about the continued increase in robberies at residential and business premises. The National Commissioner has held discussions with Provincial Commissioners, operational commanders and other senior managers who are already putting measures in place to address these crime trends, as well as truckjackings and the hijacking of motor vehicles. Other role players, such as Business Against Crime, Community Policing Forums, the Metro Police services and other government departments, are supporting and partnering the South African Police Services in our efforts.

In terms of property-related crime, theft out of/from motor vehicles decreased by -13 percent, theft of motor vehicle/cycle decreased by 10,1 percent, burglary at residential premises decreased by 7,9 percent and stock theft decreased by 1,7 percent.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs showed a 33 percent increase which is an indication that law enforcement officials, even before the start of the festive season, were adopting a zero-tolerance approach to this crime. This should be a stern warning to all drivers to refrain from drugs and alcohol or, in terms of liquor, to ensure that they stay well within the legal limit for driving.

All crime statistics released today can be found on the SAPS web site http://www.saps.gov.za. Crime statistics at station level, for the same period, will be loaded onto the web site in due course.

Enquiries:
Sally de Beer
Cell: 082 779 8658

Vish Naidoo
Cell: 082 567 4153

Trevor Bloem
Cell: 082 778 3561

Issued by: South African Police Service
6 December 2007