Festive season crime stats – Decline in some areas and increase in others

Posted on

Crime has a huge impact on insurance, from short-term to health insurance. At a recent SAPS event, police minister Bheki Cele addressed the media on the festive season statistics for the period October 15 to January 11.

Crimes on the decline

● The national murder rate declined by 1.4% over the festive period.
● Sexual offences – such as rapes and sexual assaults – decreased by 9.9%.
● Property-related crimes (burglary, stolen vehicles and stock theft) dropped by 10%.

Crimes which saw an increase

● Car hijackings shot up by 11%.
● Truck hijackings increased by 9%.
● In total, 24 827 drunk drivers were arrested as a result of police action – a rise of 16% from 2018/19.

Despite the decline in some areas, it was reported this week that South Africa ranks as the third most dangerous country in the world, according to Numbeo’s 2020 crime index – with four local cities among the 10 most dangerous globally.

Click here to read the news article as published in The South African.