Crime down, Selebi tells CNN

2007-06-08 09:02

Alet van Zyl

Johannesburg - Minutes after telling a CNN journalist that crime in South Africa was on the decline, national Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi told local reporters he couldn't give them any information on the country's crime statistics.

He told a CNN journalist who had asked him about the recent high level of crime in South Africa: "There's been a percentage decrease."

By contrast, while Selebi was being interviewed by CNN, the Minister of Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula told the local reporters that the number of house robberies and hijackings had increased.

"We're facing a problem there," he said.

The annual crime statistics for 2006-2007 are due to be released at the end of the month.

Selebi told the local media to wait until then if they wanted to know anything about the statistics.

"It will be a true reflection of crime in this country," was all that he would say.

Scorpions

Selebi was visibly upset when a journalist questioned him about allegations that the Scorpions were investigating him.

"Get out of my way. Go and ask them (the Scorpions)," he fumed.

Nqakula, when asked the same question, said he had "unshakable faith" in Selebi's innocence.

He said earlier than anyone with evidence should come forward and have it investigated. According to him, no one had yet approached him with any evidence.

Nqakula said there was no truth in the allegation that the Scorpions had raided Selebi's office.

"I don't know of any raids. There weren't any raids. That's not true.

"There is also not an inquiry. I would have known about it. He (Selebi) would also have known about it," he said.

- Beeld