South Africa: Living In A Constant State Of Fear

GOOD Statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD Secretary-General & Member of Parliament

31 May 2023

Over the past year, South Africa has seen over 27 00 murders, while more than 43 000 rapes were reported to police.

Another round of crime statistics confirmed what most citizens already know: almost nothing has changed.

Another quarter, another increase, or at best, a marginal decrease in these terrifying statistics

Once again, during the period January to March 2023, the number of murders increased by 3.4% year on year, with 6 289 people killed in these three months.

While the number of rape cases decreased slightly, compared to the same period last year, the number is still staggeringly high with 10 512 new cases opened with police.

Once again, nothing has changed especially for women and children in South Africa.

Women find themselves at the center of this violent onslaught in the country, with a total of 960 women killed during this period. Attempted murders involving women increased by 21,5% with 1 485 new cases on top of a staggering 15 000 cases of assault.

While child murders decreased by 20% compared to the same period as last year, 360 additional attempted murder cases involving minors were registered and investigated by police.

South Africans, and our authorities and law enforcement, are clearly letting women and children down.

Whatever the police are trying to do, is clearly not working. But crime is not a product of poor policing, alone. 

Whether it’s due to a lack of capacity, skills or training within the police or National Prosecuting Authority, something needs to be done, as these statistics show no sign of change.

Ultimately, this horrific reality is a product of a toxic blend of social and economic injustice; developing new and failing to fix old incohesive and unviable communities; under valuing the importance of youth development programmes; hopelessness and low self-esteem.

Therefore reducing this horrifying reality is all of our responsibility. The perpetrators are predominantly men and men need to hold other men accountable.

Media Enquiries:

Janke Tolmay, GOOD Media Manager
Cell: 073 367 1223
Email: janke@forgood.org.za