The DA – again – calls for immediate release of overdue crime statistics as ‘Victims’ report show rising insecurity

Note to editors: Please find attached soundbite by Lisa Schikerling MP

The latest Victims of the Crime Report presented by StatsSA show that the problem of increasing crime in South Africa continues unabated, especially in housebreaking, theft, assault, and street robbery.

The report highlights the rising levels of insecurity in the country with, for instance, respondents indicating that they feel unsafe walking at night increasing from 52.8% in 2019/20 to 65.1% in 2023/24. The share of those who feel unsafe during the day rose from 13.4% in 2019/20 to 19.6% in 2023/24. The report also points to under-reporting of crimes, meaning that the actual prevalence of crime could be even higher than estimated.

However, the Victims of Crime Report is survey-based and therefore not an official crime rate report based strictly on reported crimes. The official statistics that have not yet been published are crucial in order to have a complete picture of the crime situation in the country.

The Ministry of Police’s failure to release these statistics, especially the reports for Quarter 4 of the 2023/2024 financial year and Quarter 1 of the 2024/2025 financial year (which has been outstanding since May 2024), is a clear indication that the Ministry of Police and the South African Police Service (SAPS) have much work to do in bettering its transparency and accountability mechanisms.

The DA has consistently called for the immediate release of these overdue crime statistics, emphasising that South Africans deserve to be fully informed about the state of crime in their country. The cabinet’s recent commitment to release these statistics by the end of August 2024, with subsequent reports scheduled for November 2024, February 2025, and May 2025, is a step in the right direction. However, the DA remains vigilant and insists on a clear, pre-release calendar to ensure timely and transparent communication from the Ministry.

It is essential that Minister Mchunu addresses the delays and provides the public with the outstanding reports without further procrastination. The time has come for the Ministry to restore confidence among South Africans by being forthright and transparent about crime statistics, a matter that directly impacts the daily lives of millions.