DA questions crime stats
2004-09-19 14:35
Cape Town - The Democratic Alliance has questioned the value of South Africa's latest crime statistics, to be released by Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula at a media breakfast in Pretoria on Monday.
"These crime statistics are for the financial year that started 19 months ago. Of how much value are they now?" DA safety and security spokesperson Roy Jankielsohn said on Sunday.
He said Nqakula's announcement - made this weekend - that the 2003/04 crime statistics were to be released "is long overdue".
"(He) should not only release the latest crime statistics, but also give legitimate reasons why they have not been released earlier."
The release of crime statistics should not be viewed by Nqakula as an annual media event, but as a monthly duty.
"Crime statistics should be available from station level to committees and public representatives at local, provincial and national government levels.
"They should receive statistics for their respective areas of responsibility on a monthly basis as a matter of procedure.
"Most South Africans have been victims of some form of criminal activity. It is therefore essential that they should be able to assess crime levels and types of crimes committed in their neighbourhoods," he said.
- SAPA