DA shocked at under reporting of crimes

Imogen Vollenhoven
20 March 2013

The Democratic Alliance on Tuesday said the report by the South African Institute for Race Relations showing 1.7 million crimes went unreported is a reflection of the police service performance.

The DA said the statistic shows how little confidence South African citizens have in the capability of the police to investigate crime and make arrests. 

DA Shadow Minister of Police Dianne Kohler Barnard said has submitted a range of parliamentary questions to obtain further details on this chronic under-reporting and what the Ministry of Police intends to do about it.

Barnard adds that South Africa needs a highly professionalized and top performing police service.

Furthermore she adds that instead, we are increasingly faced by incidents of police brutality, by poorly trained and militarised SAPS.

She also adds that the reality is that under their leadership confidence in the SAPS has been significantly undermined and highlights that this is an indictment of both Commissioner Phiyega and Minister Mthethwa.

Barnard also indicates that what is particularly horrifying is the claim that 3 murders a day go unreported.

“According to the report around 3.3 million crimes were experienced in the country in 2011 but only 48% of these were actually reported. And these are less than half,” said Barnard.