The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) notes the latest crime statistics released on 21 February 2025 by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, which indicate a decline in several categories of violent crime. While this reduction is a step in the right direction, the overall crime levels remain unacceptably high, demanding even greater urgency and intervention from the state.
SAFTU welcomes the reported 9.8% decrease in murder, the 3.3% reduction in rape cases, and the decline in carjackings and robberies. We acknowledge that the efforts of the police, including the Safer Festive Season campaign and the recruitment of new officers under Project 10,000, have contributed to these positive trends. However, these figures still reflect a nation under siege, where communities continue to live in fear, and working-class people remain vulnerable to violence and lawlessness.
Despite these improvements, serious concerns remain. Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and malicious damage to property have increased, posing significant threats to community stability. Furthermore, while murder rates have dropped, the total number of killings, particularly in provinces like Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape, remains at crisis levels. The continued high prevalence of gang-related violence in the Western Cape, where 263 murders were recorded in just three months, is alarming and requires urgent, focused intervention.
Crime is not just a policing issue; it is a socioeconomic crisis. Unemployment, inequality, poverty, and inadequate public services fuel the conditions that breed crime. The failure of the Government of National Unity’s neoliberal policies to address these root causes means that the working class remains trapped in an unsafe society. The state must abandon its austerity measures and invest meaningfully in job creation, social infrastructure, and the eradication of informal settlements—which too often become hubs of criminal activity due to the lack of basic services and policing.
A major contributor to South Africa’s crime crisis is the severe shortage of police personnel. The country has an estimated police-to-citizen ratio of 1 officer for every 413 people, which is significantly higher than the UN-recommended ratio of 1 officer per 220 people. This massive shortfall compromises the ability of law enforcement to prevent and investigate crimes effectively. SAFTU demands an urgent police recruitment drive to double the current intake of officers beyond the 10,000 currently planned.
Even more alarming is the drastic decline in SAPS’s capacity to solve violent crimes. Between 2012 and 2022, the ability of the SAPS to detect murder plummeted by 55%, leaving only 14.5% of murder cases solved in 2021/22. Similarly, the detection rate for armed robberies dropped by 53%, with only 10.4% of cases solved. This means that a staggering 86% of murder cases and 90% of robbery cases remain unsolved, fostering a culture of impunity that emboldens criminals and fuels rising violent crime rates. The government’s failure to address these declining detection rates has coincided with a 62% increase in murders and a 32% increase in armed robberies since 2012.
The Need for Urgent Criminal Justice System Reform
While policing is critical, SAFTU emphasizes that the entire criminal justice system must be fixed. The justice system is plagued by inefficiency, corruption, and outdated processes that delay convictions and deny justice to victims. The conviction rate for rape victims remains alarmingly low, discouraging survivors from reporting their cases. The courts must move rapidly towards modernizing their operations through technology, including digital case management, online testimonies for vulnerable victims, and AI-assisted case tracking to improve efficiency.
The failure of the courts to swiftly process cases and secure convictions has led to massive case backlogs, allowing violent criminals to remain free and discouraging public confidence in the legal system. Urgent investment in court automation, electronic case filing, and digitized evidence management is required to ensure efficiency and transparency.
Moreover, widespread reports of corruption within the judiciary, including bribery of prosecutors and magistrates, must be addressed with urgency. The increasing ease with which judicial officials can be bribed threatens to erode public confidence in the justice system. SAFTU demands that anti-corruption measures be reinforced with independent oversight bodies to investigate and root out judicial misconduct.
SAFTU calls for:
Immediate recruitment of at least 20,000 additional police officers to improve crime prevention and response times.
A clear plan to meet the internationally accepted police-to-citizen ratio to ensure law enforcement has the capacity to serve communities effectively.
An end to austerity and greater investment in public services, including education, healthcare, and housing, to address crime at its roots.
Community-based crime prevention strategies, including the expansion of neighbourhood policing forums and greater collaboration between law enforcement and communities.
Decisive action against corruption within the SAPS, prosecution authorities, and the judiciary to restore public confidence.
Justice for victims, including improved conviction rates and the expansion of victim support services.
The integration of modern technology into the courts to expedite case processing, digitize evidence management, and improve judicial efficiency.
Enhanced protection for whistleblowers and anti-corruption investigators to dismantle corrupt networks within the criminal justice system.
While SAFTU acknowledges the progress made, we will not celebrate minor improvements while working-class communities continue to suffer under the weight of crime. We demand a bold, comprehensive strategy that addresses both the symptoms and the systemic causes of crime. The right to safety is a fundamental human right, and the state must do more to ensure that every South African—especially the poor and working class—can live free from fear and violence.
People before profits! Safety before statistics! Build a working-class alternative to austerity and crime!
A Statement was issued on behalf of SAFTU by General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
For more details, contact the National Spokesperson at:
Newton Masuku
066 168 2157
Newtonm@saftu.org.za
