The latest crime statistics for South Africa clearly show that the government and the South African Police Service (SAPS) are failing miserably to protect citizens. This can be attributed to the wrong policy direction, cadre deployment and poor country management. The statistics further emphasise that communities, particularly agricultural communities, are left to fend for themselves in safeguarding their families, property and businesses.
Today, the Police Department released crime statistics for the last quarter – January to March 2023 – showing that three murders and three attempts at murder are carried out every hour. Furthermore, 20 serious assaults take place every hour. Nineteen burglaries and three robberies are reported every hour. In addition, sixty-six cases of livestock theft occur daily. It is important to note that these figures represent a skewed image as many crimes are not reported because people have lost trust in the police’s ability to solve crimes.
“This statistic only refers to the direct figures of crime,” says Bennie van Zyl, general manager of TLU SA. “It does not show the far-reaching impact it has on the economy. What responsible business would invest in a country where their products are lost through truck hijacking and theft and their business exposed to 13 cases of trade crime per hour, while their staff are exposed to murder, rape and serious assault daily?”
It appears that Minister of Police Bheki Cele’s plan to arm semi-trained foot soldiers with luxury vehicles has not had the impact he had hoped for, likely because he is not up to the task of fulfilling it. Therefore, it would be to the country’s advantage if he is replaced with someone who genuinely has practical integrated plans for crime reduction and can implement them without interference to bring about the government’s socialist ideal.
The government should instead be focused on getting the basics of government under control instead of spending time on laws about the use of agricultural land, expropriation without compensation, and transformation in agriculture.
“The crime situation is but one of the pressing issues that hurdle South Africa,” says Van Zyl. “It is time that the government starts prioritising and paying attention to what experts suggest. TLU SA is available to offer practical advice on managing a business into a profitable entity as our members – farmers – have been doing it for 126 years.”
