#CrimeStats: 57 people die each day in SA, says Cele
The country's murder rate has increased this year by 6.9% in comparison to the previous financial year of 2016/2017.
The police are releasing their annual crime statistics for the 2017 / 2018 financial year in Parliament today.
A total of 20 336 people were murdered in South Africa from April 2017 to March 2018.
This compared to 19 016 during the previous reporting period. Sexual offences and attempted murder are also up.
#Murder in SA still on the rise. #CrimeStats #CrimeStatistics https://t.co/EPV8546rMs pic.twitter.com/EcK9mLUmO5
— ISS (@issafrica) September 11, 2018
The Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, says the police have dropped the ball. He says their focus now, is on remedying the situation.
"It doesn't matter what figures you put - but if you cant deal and control the murder cases, we are not bringing any joy to the South African people. It looks like the figure this time is 57 people dying a day. That's how South Africans are murdered. It borders close to a war zone," Cele said.
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The police's Major General Norman Sekhukhune has told the portfolio committee on Police that firearms were used as weapons in half of the murders - adding that there's been a hike in murders of women and children.
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