South Africa’s murder rate is back to the high levels last seen 20 years ago, leaving experts and commentators concerned.
Just two months into the year, South Africans already have to navigate debilitating load shedding, which was recently declared a national disaster, high food prices, heavy rainfall and flooding - and now a 10% increase in murder cases.
Police Minister Bheki Cele released the latest crime stats which show that all contact crimes increased by 11.6%.
Despite the alarming figures, Cele said “the calls by South Africans on the police, to decisively deal with crime are loud and they are clear”.
From October to December 2022, 4 992 suspects were arrested for gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) related crimes. During the same period 71 accused were handed down 89 life sentences.
Read more here: https://www.iol.co.za/saturday-star/news/murder-is-back-to-levels-last-seen-in-2003-921cc485-b333-4bab-9c60-25672dae62a4