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Crime statistics released today confirm that the Free State province has become a very dangerous place to live in. The 2023 second quarter statistics indicate that between July and Sep 2023 there were 264 murders in the province, which is 30 more than in the same period last year.

This implies that three people are murdered every day in this province. The entire criminal justice system is flawed and is failing our people. The best deterrent to would-be criminals remains successful prosecution.

While many crimes have increased (common robbery, rape, etc.) and some others have decreased (stock theft, shoplifting etc.), we must consider that there is a serious underreporting of crimes because of a lack of trust in the criminal justice system.

The high caseloads of detectives and the lack of resources, such as appropriate training, vehicles, and forensic capacity, is a stumbling block to both visible policing and detection, which affects the successful prosecution of criminals.

The need for the DA’s Community Safety Bill in the Free State Legislature has become a necessity to improve the fight against crime in the Free State, and we will therefore continue to prioritise this Bill. We are committed to bringing change to the Free State and therefore urge all residents to register to vote for a DA government in the 2024 elections.

Issued by Leona Kleynhans - DA Community Safety Spokesperson in the Free State Legislature