Friday, 23 May 2025

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the release of the fourth quarter crime statistics by the Ministry of Police, covering the period from January to March 2025. These statistics, while showing some isolated improvements, confirm the harsh truth that crime in South Africa remains a national crisis.

It is unfortunate that the Minister of Police and his department were forced to waste precious public resources and national attention in order to discredit the racist campaign of  a fake “white genocide.” Minister Senzo Mchunu had to reiterate  that there is no genocide against white people in South Africa as the recent statistics confirm that of the six murders on farms recorded in the fourth quarter, five of the victims were Black, which included two farm owners, two farm employees, and a farm manager. And only one was white, a farm dweller. This proves that violence on farms affects Black people more than any other demographic, yet the false narrative persists, deflecting from the real crises faced by our people daily.

These distractions are an insult to the real victims of crime in this country, especially women who continue to be brutalised by gender-based violence; to the communities terrorised by gang violence, extortion, and kidnappings; and to the children living in fear of rape, assault and murder. The latest figures reveal a 21% increase in sexual contact crimes, and yet we continue to see little more than lip service from a police ministry that has had access to crime data year after year but has failed to transform it into meaningful policy and protection.

The majority of the country’s murders continue to occur in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape, and while 13 of the 30 police stations with the highest murder cases have recorded decreases in murder rates, these are minor fluctuations in the face of a deeply embedded culture of violence that is exacerbated by poverty.

While Minister Mchunu recommitted to changes with the SAPS, vowed to work closely with other ministries and noted patterns in violent crime in different provinces, the truth is that the police have always had this data. The state knows where the violence is concentrated, who it targets, and how it manifests and yet year after year, little changes. Promises are made about addressing illegal firearms, organised crime, gang violence, taxi-related killings, and corruption within the SAPS itself, yet communities remain unprotected and criminals continue to be emboldened.

The numbers are telling us is that this government is failing to create a safe society, a mandate that the ANC, and now the GNU has failed dismally in. The EFF has consistently called for decisive action against crime, particularly in Parliament where we suggested the development of a multidisciplinary task force, including public hearing, civil society and more in order to address racketeering and extortion that has been on the rise and neglected. Minister Mchunu outrightly refused this suggestion stating they had it under control with their current mechanisms. And yet these cases are on the rise.

Similarly, the EFF has presented motions on GBV, statutory rape and the increase of assault against children. While some of these have been adopted, true action is yet to be taken by the GNU, and if this inaction and lack of political will is anything to go by, the Ministry of Police will still be giving the same statistics and presenting strategies with no follow through in the next crime statistics briefing.

ISSUED BY ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Sinawo Thambo (National Spokesperson) 072 629 7422

Thembi Msane (National Spokesperson) 061 467 8169

Andiswa Madikazi (Parliament Media Liason) 069 516 4924

Thato Lebyane (Media Inquiries) 078 563 1581