Crime costs R1bn/month

2003-05-25 21:36

Johannesburg - Gauteng Safety and Community Liaison MEC Nomvula Mokonyane has released statistics which indicate the "all-in" cost of crime in the central Johannesburg area in the last year was R11.6bn.

The figures were compiled from records kept at the Johannesburg Central police station and were given in a written reply to questions put in the legislature by Democratic Alliance MPL Jack Bloom.

The statistics covered the total cost to the community and the economy of all categories of crime including violent crimes in the central business district (CBD). There were 4 851 incidents in 2002 compared to 4 698 in 1999.

What the department calls "socially unacceptable" crime, which includes assault and crimes against children, declined from 5 000 in 1999 to 3 618 last year, but economic crimes, among which were some massive drug busts as well as fraud and forgery, rose from 12 917 to 15 491 over this same period.

Cameras

Responding to Bloom's complaint that closed circuit cameras in the CBD merely pushed crime away from the area, safety and liaison spokesperson Mongezi Mnyani said: "This proves the cameras are effective especially when we see that arrests increased to 3 768 in 2002 from 3 519 in 1999. Business people fully support the camera initiative."

Bloom said: "There is no substitute for a visible police presence on the streets. It is therefore disappointing that policemen are going to be reduced from 839 to 737 for Johannesburg Central."

Mnyani said: "The establishment of the metro police has put a very visible presence on the streets and they work closely with the SA Police Service and security companies as a highly mobile and flexible force."

Mnyani confirmed that policemen will be moved from central Johannesburg to other "areas of need" in terms of an internal SAPS regulation that is known as Resolution Seven.

Bloom said it was "crazy" to cut back on police resources in a key economic sub-region which is suffering massive losses due to theft, as well as appallingly high life-threatening crimes.

Mnyani said it was a pity the DA had politicised an issue of grave concern in which men and women placed their lives at risk to protect and serve the community.

"Resolution Seven will come into effect only at the end of June," he said.

"Our area of jurisdiction will then be covered by six sectors each with a sector manager who will be able to co-ordinate and allocate resources to where they are most needed - for example in Alexandra," he said.

- SAPA