CRIME STATISTICS
MPs weigh in on racialisation of murder rate
Police Minister Fikile Mbalula labels #BlackMonday demonstrations racist
Racial overtones in the controversy over violent crime became the focal point of Tuesday’s debate in the National Assembly on crime statistics. The debate came after the #BlackMonday demonstrations in which farmers took to the streets and called on the government to protect farming communities from killings and an imminent "white genocide". Some demonstrators who took part in the protest brandished the old South African flag and gathered at the Voortrekker Monument to lay white crosses. The demonstration sparked debate on "racialisation" of murder. According to national crime statistics released last week, 19,016 murders were reported in the 2016-17 financial year, an increase of 343 on the previous year’s toll. The crime figures also showed increases in the number of cases of attempted murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Sexual offences and assault with grievous bodily harm reportedly decreased. Police Minister Fikile Mbalula, who took part in the National Assembly d...
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