Tebogo Msimanga |
The Democratic Alliance says the release of the crime statistics for the 4th quarter of the 2020/2021 financial year on Friday highlights the fact that South African Police Service (SAPS) can no longer delay tackling the DNA backlog crisis. It is reported that there are 200 000 unprocessed pieces of evidence at police’s forensic department.
Minister of Police Bheki Cele revealed that murder increased by 8.4% to 4 976 for the first three months of this year. In addition to this, attempted murder increased by 8.7% to 4 582.
DA Shadow Minister of Police Andrew Whitfield said SAPS seems to continue to lose its battle against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). The crime stats show that 58% of GBV dockets have not been finalised for more than year.
“Rape remains extremely high despite showing a slight decline. An average of 105.7 people were raped per day between January to March 2021.”
Whitfield added that this clearly demonstrates the urgency with which South Africa’s DNA backlog crisis has to be addressed. “Continued delays in DNA testing will delay justice for the thousand victims of violent crimes.”
He further said they remain concerned about the impact of cuts to SAPS’ budget on the increase in crime.
“The DA will write to the Chairperson of the Police Portfolio Committee, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, to request that both Minister Cele and the National Police Commissioner General Kehla Sithole are summoned to Parliament to account for these dire crime statistics.” Concluded Whitfield.
