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The DA calls for answers from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube and her Community Safety MEC, Sipho Hlomuka as the 4th quarter crime statistics – released earlier today - reveal that our province is now South Africa’s murder and rape capital.

The figures, for the period January to March 2023, show that a staggering 25.3% of all murders countrywide were committed in KZN, with an average of 17 people murdered daily. This while Umlazi and Inanda SAPS were identified as KZN’s murder hotspots.

KZN also reported the highest number of firearm-related murders with 842, showing the proliferation of dangerous weapons in our province. The province also remains the country’s rape capital - with an average of 23 people raped daily. Meanwhile, violent contact crime also rose by 5.1%.

The DA has consistently warned that KZN is set to become the most dangerous province in the country - and now it has. The question is: How bad does it have to get before this ANC-run government acts?

We expect answers from the Premier and her MEC. More importantly, they must explain to the people of KZN how this ANC-run government has allowed our province to become a haven for criminals – one where women and children are raped and murdered every day.

KZN’s Community Safety Department has an annual budget of R250million. The question is: Where is this money going? The DA expects the following from the MEC;

• A detailed plan on the R160 million allocated to fighting crime earlier this year
• A breakdown of the R65 million allocated to Safety Promotion which includes the Volunteer Social Crime Prevention Project (VSCPP) – a key performance indicator for community-focused interventions and community training programmes
• An update on the R17million for monitoring of the effectiveness of community safety structures and;
• Details around the R3 million allocated to Community Police Relations.

Today’s statistics also present a bleak picture in terms of residential robbery, kidnappings, assault, theft of motor vehicles, burglaries, sexual offences, shoplifting, theft and commercial and other crimes.

KZN’s people are living in a dark and unhappy place. They are not safe, no matter where they go in our province.

This ANC government needs to take a leaf out of the DA-led Western Cape’s book which has recorded a 14.1% decrease in murder since the 4th Quarter last year - the biggest decrease in the country.

The DA in KZN has consistently offered solutions aimed at making our communities safer. These have fallen on deaf ears. It is clear that this ANC does not care and that it has no plan when it comes to protecting KZN’s people. It must be punished at the polls in 2024.

Issued by Sharon Hoosen, MPL - DA KZN Spokesperson on Community Safety and Liaison