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Johannesburg - The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) on Monday expressed concern about the rise in crimes such as murder.
"We are devastated by the alarming 5% murder rate, greatly contributed to by the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces," general secretary Nkosinathi Theledi said in a statement.
"We also cannot turn a blind eye on the 4.6% rise of attempted murders as they tend to lead to actual loss of life."
The union was reacting to the release of the 2013/14 crime statistics.
National police commissioner Riah Phiyega announced on Friday that the murder rate had increased, despite overall serious crime declining slightly by 0.4%.
Murder increased by 5%, and attempted murder by 4.6%.
Theledi said Popcru was pleading with communities to be involved in the fight against crime.
Popcru said the increase in drug-related crimes was a conundrum.
"The 26.1% increase in drug-related crime is a bitter-sweet conundrum, as the increase could be translated to mean that the police have been arresting drug peddlers and abusers in large numbers.
"Which, if it's the case, is cause for celebration. However, because of the close link between drug use and other crimes, including theft and robberies, we remain concerned," Theledi said.
He said the decrease in sexual offences raised more questions about the public's faith in the police.
Rape decreased by 6.3%, and sexual assault dropped 4.9%. Total sexual offences decreased by 5.6%.
"Upon face value the organisation is tempted to accept these figures as victories. However, realities of every day South African life suggest that this could very well be a tragic instance of women and children choosing silence over seeking justice and reporting their ordeals."
Popcru hoped the crime statistics would help people
become aware of what was happening around them and force them to become part of
the solution.
