By Annalise Kempen
Photos by Vincent Lali, Ashraf Hendricks, Ihsaan Haffejee/GroundUp and City of Cape Town
It is a fact that 607 163 contact crimes have been reported between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022 - a fact which should serve as a wake-up call about the crime situation in South Africa. An analysis of these 600 000+ reported contact crimes (crimes against the person), reminds us that an average of 69 people had been murdered each day during that period; 114 people had been raped; 57 vehicles and five trucks had been hijacked; and that 60 house robberies and 446 cases of assault GBH had been reported every single day of those 12 months (SAPS, 2022).
Read more: Is it time for provinces/municipalities to get more policing powers?
Article and photos by Kotie Geldenhuys
When someone knows about criminal activities, they often do not know where to go with the information without placing themselves in harm's way. The solution for this problem is Crime Stop, specifically its share call number 08600 10111 or the MySAPS mobile app or USSD string *134*10111#. But the question these people may ask is who deals with this information and how? Servamus recently visited the Crime Stop office and call centre at the SAPS Head Office in Pretoria to learn more about the work they do.
Read more: CRIME STOP - Anonymous tip-offs help to solve crime
By Kotie Geldenhuys
"Our hope for the future depends on our resolution as a nation in dealing with the scourge of corruption. Success will require an acceptance that, in many respects, we are a sick society. It is perfectly correct to assert that all this was spawned by apartheid. No amount of self-induced amnesia will change the reality of history. But it is also a reality of the present that among the new cadres in various levels of government you will find individuals who are as corrupt - if not more - than those they find in government.
Read more: Corrupt municipal employees: It's all about self-enrichment
By Kotie Geldenhuys
Photos provided by Deirdré van Helsdingen
We are all quick to complain about the lack of services from municipalities and about the ongoing crime situation in the country. But what are we doing? Are we going to be or make the difference?
Read more: Community Caring Forums: Be the change you want to see in your community