Police Minister Bheki Cele said the country has a serious illegal firearm problem, adding, however, that perpetrators use a variety of weapons to commit murder.
On Friday, Cele presented the latest crime stats for the third quarter, covering the period between October 2022 and December 2022.
The statistics show a significant increase of 10.1% for murder, which stands at 7,555 cases during that period.
Cele said during the third quarter, police seized of over 6,000 illegal firearms.
At least 3,000 people were killed with firearms, but Cele noted that firearms aren’t the only weapon of choice.
“3,144 people were killed with firearms, 2,498 people were killed with other weapons such as knives, sharp and blunt instruments, bricks, in many cases even with bare hands.”
Cele said one of the few categories to show a decrease are cash heists and bank robberies, which he said were due to an increase in police visibility.
Cele added that the police will recruit and train another 10,000 officers who will join the force at the end of 2023.
-EWN
In other news – AKA laid to rest in a private funeral – No media allowed
The funeral of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes will not be live-streamed or televised. This as the family of the late rapper asked for privacy to bid him farewell.
AKA was shot and killed outside a restaurant on Florida Road in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, last Friday, and will be buried by his family and close friends today. Even though there have been videos online of the procession to the cemetery, the funeral will not be aired. Learn More
