South Africa witnessed an average of nearly 84 murders daily between October and December, reflecting a two-percent increase compared to the same period in 2022, according to recent police statistics released on Friday.
These figures may pose a challenge for the ruling ANC, which has governed the nation for three decades and is preparing for a challenging election later this year. Illegal immigration and escalating crime have emerged as crucial political issues in the run-up to the general election, with opposition parties criticizing the government for perceived failures in addressing these concerns.
Police Minister Bheki Cele, facing criticism over rising crime rates, reported that 7,710 people were murdered in the last quarter of 2023. The increase of 2.1 percent from the previous year is causing concern.
Although reported rapes in the country, known for high rates of sexual assaults against women and children, saw a slight decline of 1.7 percent during the same period, the situation remains worrying. Cele emphasized that the majority of rapes occurred at victims’ residences, often involving perpetrators who were neighbors, friends, or family members.
In the crime-ridden township of Inanda, known as the country’s rape capital, there were 20 fewer reported cases over the quarter.
Additionally, 1,258 illegal miners were arrested in the last three months of 2023, addressing the ongoing issue of unlicensed miners operating in the mineral-rich country, causing concerns about criminal activities.
While there were eleven fewer cash-in-transit heists during this reporting period, the minister warned about the growing threat of kidnappings for ransom, calling it a lucrative commodity for organized crime in South Africa. The police are committed to combating this menace, according to the minister.