The murder rate in South Africa increased by 5 per cent, to 17,068 murders, in the 2013-14 financial year, national police commissioner Riah Phiyega said Friday.
The overall figure translates into an average of more than 46 murders per day. South Africa’s murder rate has been almost twice the African average in recent years, according to UN figures.
Attempted murder rose by 4.6 per cent, while robbery with aggravated circumstances went up 12.7 per cent, according to latest data available.
Despite those numbers, Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko insisted there were signs of a long-term improvement in South Africa’s crime rate.
“Even though we have had these increases in the 2013/14 year under review, the trend overall is on the decline,” Nhleko told a press conference.
According to the new statistics, rape cases in South Africa decreased by 6.3 per cent in the observed period. Nhleko attributed the decline to a “higher consciousness” in society through government campaigns and increased awareness of gender violence.
A number of factors contribute to historically high levels of crime in South Africa, including the normalization of violence during apartheid era, the breakdown of family structures and a huge economic gap between the rich and the poor.
South Africa doubled the number of police officers between 2002 and 2011.
GNA
