Cele calls for regional coordination to combat cross-border crimes

Police Minister Bheki Cele says there should be better coordination and alignment between South Africa and its neighbours to combat cross-border crimes. He says the laws in the different countries make it difficult to pursue criminals across borders.

Briefing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police on the third quarter statistics for the 2021-2022 financial year, Cele gave an example of cars found in Mozambique after being stolen from South Africa.

“In SA(South Africa) if you buy stolen goods, you are not innocent, but there, the buyers [are] always innocent. Which means  once the car is on the other side and is bought, you can’t take it from that owner because the buyer is innocent,” says Cele.

Video | Police Minister Bheki Cele releases crimes statistics for the third quarter of 2021-2022

‘Most rapes occurred at the residence of the victim or perpetrator’

Police say most rapes in the third quarter of the 2021-2022 financial year occurred at the residence of either the victim or the perpetrator.

Other places include streets, open fields and recreational parks.

Sekhukhune says there were 61 cases of rape reported at educational institutions.

Contact crimes decrease by four percent: Major-General Norman Sekhukhune

Police say there has been a 4% decrease in contact crimes in the third quarter of the 2021-2022 financial year.

However, murder has increased by close to 9% while attempted murder is up by 3.5%.

Rape has come down by over 7% in the same period while total sexual offences have decreased by 9%.

Robbery at residential premises has decreased by almost half a percent.

Disagreements between Sithole  and Cele
Meanwhile, Sithole has also admitted that there are at times disagreements between himself and Cele. He emphasised, however, that he has always respected the minister. Sithole has also denied that there is a tug of war between the two of them.

“To me, from a career cop’s perspective, he always remains the Minister no matter what he says and and from a discipline’s point of view, I can never disrespect him.  My responsibility is to defend SAPS interest,” says Sithole.

Contact crimes decrease by four percent: Major-General Norman Sekhukhune