Durban - DA KZN spokesperson on Community Safety and Liaison Sharon Hoosen said the KwaZulu-Natal quarterly crime statistics for April to June 2022 released by Police Minister Bheki Cele on Friday are cold comfort for the people of the province.
Hoosen said residents of KZN continue to live in fear on a daily basis.
She said the figures, which show marginal decreases in some categories and that the SAPS remains out of its depth.
Criminals continue to regard KZN as a safe haven, she said.
“According to the statistics, the province remains the worst in the country when it comes to murder, with a 15.6% increase in this category,” said Hoosen.
Hoosen said three of the country’s worst five police stations for murder are in KZN.
She said all three, which are uMlazi, Inanda and Plessislaer, had an increase in murder compared to the same period last year.
Further statistics include:
- An alarming increase of 22.7% in attempted sexual offences
- An 8.2% increase in attempted murder
- A 11.3% increase in car-jackings
- A 6.7% rise in robbery at residential premises and;
- An 8.9% increase in kidnappings.
The statistics also show marginal decreases in terms of the following crimes:
- A slight decrease in the number of rape cases from 1 959 to 1 953
- A 3.2% decrease in terms of sexual offences
- A 13.7% reduction in stock theft.
With regard to contact crimes, Hoosen said while KZN experienced a marginal decrease of 2.7% compared to the same period last year, Durban Central is listed as the fourth most dangerous place country-wide with a staggering increase of 23.3%.
“It is against this back-drop that the people of our province are fast becoming desensitised to ever-increasing crime levels as they face a never-ending onslaught of violence,” she said.
She said SAPS is no longer able to function effectively.
“(SAPS) has been let down by the powers-that-be. This applies, in particular, to critical areas including securing sufficient resources and tools of trade, enough staff and proper training,” said Hoosen.