Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
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The government has revealed that 20,336 murders were recorded in the 2017/18 financial year. That boils down to 57 a day. Police Minister, Bheki Cele, gave the kind of honest answer we should have been getting years ago when he told Parliament, “It borders close to the war zone while there is peace and no war in South Africa. If we can’t deal with and control the murder cases, we are not bringing any joy to the South African people. It does not matter what else we reduce …”. The numbers of police are down by 10,000 since 2010 and the SAPS structure apparently shows a staff deficit of 62,000 people. Amongst other problems, apparently the police cannot effectively police a lot of townships where there are shacks, because the vehicles cannot fit between the shacks.
Perhaps at the same time we should acknowledge the problem on our roads where approximately 40 people die a day, so between murder and the roads approximately 97 South Africans die every single day which is a very high rate for a population of our size. It means our per capita death by road and death by guns are, for example, 5 times higher than that of the United States and yet we always think they have a gun problem. Per capita death rate is how many people, per 100,000 people, die every year by a certain way and it is the only meaningful way to compare one country’s statistics to another or to compare one generation’s statistics to another when a population is growing as is the case in South Africa. The other thing that came out of those statistics is, while certainly 46 farmers has been murdered in South Africa in 2017, and that it is not a good statistic, but it is certainly less than some critics would have us believe. In other words, they have created the impression that there is almost a white farmer genocide when in fact statistically there is not. Obviously, and this worries me with my brother who lives in a rural area and could be classified, I guess, as a farmer in certain respects, given that he grows plants on his farm and retails into nurseries, is that those rural areas are far more dangerous just generally. It is something I pointed out to him before he went to live there and while staying there he had shootings, hold-ups and there is no doubt, away from the security of the city, perhaps even the added security of a gated townhouse complex or estate, the rates are likely to be much higher.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Thursday 01-Nov-18
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Jessica M said:
on Tuesday 14-May-19 12:49 PM
I must say I think that is still low compared to what we read everyday. It is so worrying and depressing knowing how this beautiful country is going down.
Nicolle said:
on Tuesday 11-Dec-18 07:50 AM
Recently I needed to go into Johannesburg CBD in order to attend to consultations with clients. Historically, I have never really had any real issues with going / being in "Town", until this recent day. Finding parking was terrifying, the basement parking which is available are lit by dim lighting and dark staircases. The simple task of walking from your car to the office on the streets of Johannesburg, right outside of its High Court, past Small Street Mall was probably THE most petrifying experience of my entire existence. Hordes of thugs casually decorate the streets, looking at you with hungry eyes and bad intentions. I arrived safely at my destination, shaken to my core, unfortunately the same cannot be said for many of the people who I know have been mugged / injured and mugged on the mean streets of Johannesburg. My long-winded point is that the cities don't necessarily harbour much safety either.
Tersia said:
on Monday 10-Dec-18 10:54 AM
To me it's also quite scary how we are still over-populated and so many people are dying in a day. Which actually means more people are also being born everyday. It's heartbreaking to be living in a land where this has become part of your live - to life in fear of everyone around you because no where you are truly safe, and when something actually happens like a break-in you are told "well, that's the country you live in." It's sickening that nobody can do anything about the situation.
Prishani said:
on Wednesday 28-Nov-18 04:28 PM
These are horrifying statistics, these are just murders that have been reported there are obviously no doubt a number of murders that haven't been reported, like for example in our rural areas!
Natasha said:
on Tuesday 27-Nov-18 08:53 AM
Its so sad and scary to know that we aren't even safe in our own country.Our lives doesn't matter in this country anymore,and you know what is even more scary about this murders. They actually get away with it.
Ashleigh said:
on Thursday 22-Nov-18 11:00 AM
Our lives are really starting to just feel like a number in this country. Too many crimes in this country. If you not stressing financially you stressing about your survival too. Its really sad.
Jadine Esterhuizen said:
on Thursday 22-Nov-18 10:23 AM
It is quite fascinating that government has the statistics of murders taking place every single day but how rare is it that they ever solve these cases. In South Africa murders is just one of SA's statistics nothing gets done just a docket and that's it no one digs into what happened and so on as where in other countries like the USA - 60% of murder cases are solved whether its immediately or 5-10 years after it does not just become a statistic for them.
Helen said:
on Thursday 22-Nov-18 07:59 AM
The statistics are shocking, and yes looks like we are all surviving in the war zone!
Police can not protect us, so we have to train ourselves to protect our kids and families! Would I ever thought moving to a such a beautiful, full of natural resources country will make going on the training of self defense and operating the gun!
Joyce said:
on Friday 16-Nov-18 04:56 PM
It is sad that our government busy counting and calculating the number of people dying per day but not actually getting solutions of sorting out the problem
Liz said:
on Friday 16-Nov-18 02:00 PM
These statistics are shocking and it is certainly worth asking what more or else can be done as this is simply not good enough. I believe that we should have harsher sentences and police presence should be increased. Prisoners are treated well in the prison facilities and essentially they are being provided with all basic amenities at the cost of the tax payer.
Tamaryn said:
on Wednesday 14-Nov-18 04:48 PM
I'm taken by the police not being able to effectively police certain townships as their vehicles cannot fit between the shacks! Thinking of it, this is obviously true but are there no other possible means to police, such as on foot patrols, perhaps in groups? This may be seen as dangerous, but surely a police presence of some nature is better than none at all.
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Tuesday 13-Nov-18 11:49 AM
Reading the news on murders is just so scary. It is frightening, on one hand one needs to be aware but on the other we cannot live being paranoid. Even through there are deaths on the road - those can be prevented. I am happy there is a 7 day in jail before bail for drunken drivers. However, we cannot prevent senseless murders. How? It is impossible because every human being will do as he or she pleases. Look at Hannah Cornelius killers - absolutely no remorse. Convicted and seen laughing. Which brings me to the next point, sometimes prison is where these murders want to be! Part of me says- bring back the death penalty! If someone kills another - why on earth should they be afforded human rights when they violated another human's rights?
candice said:
on Tuesday 13-Nov-18 11:30 AM
Its's very sad that we live in such a Beautiful Country but we in constant fear, just going to the shops you in fear of being high jacked or being robbed you never know whats going to happen. And our kids don't know how it feels to just play in the road or at a park they cant even walk home like we could due to trafficking. I don't think it will get better !! Everyone you meet , friends family all have suffered or experienced some type of crime done to them. People work so hard for things and they just take it away . There is no Justice in this country
Daniella said:
on Tuesday 13-Nov-18 10:43 AM
There truly needs to be a drastic change in the way things are run, We live in a constant state of fear and its become the norm which is sad. After going to Thailand and feeling safe and not having the constant need to keep my handbag close, when coming back to South Africa the sad reality hit.
Sarah said:
on Tuesday 13-Nov-18 06:36 AM
South Africa needs to bring back the death penalty and make the prisons punishments harder . South Africa is a beautiful place and has some much potential with the right government running it.
Jessica M said:
on Monday 12-Nov-18 08:52 AM
This is the sad part of South Africa, beautiful country but very dangerous. So sad that my kid's will never experience the freedom of going to parks or doing anything really because of the high crime and trafficking in this country.
brumilde said:
on Monday 12-Nov-18 08:03 AM
I really think the standard of the police training is a joke. Bring back horses and proper training and take pride in your work. It is allot easier said than done off course but the government should focus on our education, health and safety.
Jadine Richards said:
on Thursday 08-Nov-18 08:27 AM
These are shocking statistics but as South Africans we have become numb to it. I also recently heard of the rape statistics being that there is a rape every 6 seconds, this is open to correction. It is extremely disturbing that this is happening around us on a daily basis.
Melissa van Tellingen said:
on Thursday 08-Nov-18 08:06 AM
What a scary reality we have to face each day. The main issue here is the unemployment rate in South Africa which causes people to steal and murder for only a couple of hundred rand. Extremely sad to think that a beautiful country like ours has horrific statistics like this.
Michelle D said:
on Wednesday 07-Nov-18 01:00 PM
South Africa has much higher rates of employment and poverty than the US. That being said, a lot of poverty based crime does not lead to murder, but rather just simple theft. I will never forget watching a documentary on South African prisons in which they asked people why they committed their crimes. One of the prisoners was away for murder and, when asked, replied that he saw a man in a BMW and was angry that this man has a BMW and he doesn't. So he killed him. This kind of unjustified violence takes place in South Africa everyday. Farm murders may not be as widespread as everyone believes, but the scary thing with farm murders isn't their quantity but the extreme violence involved.
Mathilda Du Preez said:
on Monday 05-Nov-18 03:06 PM
This is the sad reality we all as South Africans have to face.
It is ridiculous that we should live in Constant fear of leaving our houses or driving to work or just walking in a mall.
courtney said:
on Monday 05-Nov-18 02:49 PM
I don't even have words, this country is getting worse day by day. How bad will it be when our children is our age. It makes me scared just to think about it.
Henrietta said:
on Monday 05-Nov-18 10:39 AM
Nowhere is safe anymore. Climbing in your car to go to work you could either be robbed and killed or a car accident can take your life. I myself was robbed about 12 years ago, stabbed 11 times and a punctured lung, then about 8 years ago we we hijacked by gunpoint in front of my mothers gate. Everyday is a risk but we have to live instead of being cowered in our homes. I wish for a better South Africa and less fear. What will it be like for our grandkids one day.
Megan said:
on Monday 05-Nov-18 08:28 AM
Recently having had an attempted break in at my house, where my mother was home alone, it is truly scary to think you can't be safe anywhere including your own "safe haven". Whenever I'm out with friends and family I always ask if one could stay close to the bathroom with me or come in as well, I feel I can't go anywhere alone and sometimes dread driving alone on busy roads with stop/start traffic. Definitely not a great feeling living in fear all the time.
Thabitha said:
on Friday 02-Nov-18 04:27 PM
I was not surprised at all most of our young stars are joining gangsters' and if you can see their weapon's, sometimes I feel like our freedom its too much.
Jolene said:
on Friday 02-Nov-18 03:19 PM
These statistics are shocking! It feels like I’m reading about more and more murder and rape cases every day. I read yesterday that a hitman will accept as little as R5000 to kill someone.
Melissa said:
on Friday 02-Nov-18 07:48 AM
A person is not safe anywhere and the saddest part is that it's just getting worst everyday. We can't do anything to stop it, we just have to hope and pray that nothing like this ever happens to us.
Fikile said:
on Thursday 01-Nov-18 04:14 PM
It's hard for the police to patrol in the shacks because they also get killed by the very same people they are trying to protect and in most cases this is very scary that we have so many people dying in South Africa and for the fact that we are a well know country for bad things that makes me sick that we are most know with wrong things while the are so many things that are good that we do. It's not easy for the people to report cases to the police because the very same people that have to protect us, sell us out to the wrong people, with the police it's worse because someone dies now and it gets to be reported but in few days the very same person that was arrested yesterday is released today roaming the streets as if they did nothing to other people, that is why the community take justice into their own hands because the police themselves fail us. It is very disappointing to hear such horrific things about my own country, it's so sad that we are being killed by the very same people we know.
Victoria said:
on Thursday 01-Nov-18 03:24 PM
Its very sad and scary to have to live in consist fear of something bad happening to you and your family. No matter where you are, you need to be aware of everyone and everything around you. You have to consistently be on guard. Something drastically needs to change in South Africa.
Nikita said:
on Thursday 01-Nov-18 01:11 PM
It is a sad reality that we must live with each day as a South African citizen to know that you are never truly safe. Having my own father be attacked by 5 armed men on the farm I grew up on, the attack on farmers fast became a reality for me. Perhaps if one compares the statistic of farmers murdered to the total number of people in the country then it does not appear to be of much concern. However when it is in your own little community where there are only 50 farmers - the statistic is very scary. I have also had my cousin almost lose his life in a hijack situation where he was shot through his lung and liver only for a small cellphone. After being in hospital for 3 months he eventually pulled through but our family will never forget that night and I am sure he still has nightmares about it.
Jessica A said:
on Thursday 01-Nov-18 10:56 AM
Unfortunately, in areas where there is a higher rate of unemployment and poverty, as seen within most rural areas, crime is generally a lot higher! It appears as if violent crime has become the status quo and it is unacceptable... It would seem as if we live in constant civil war. People are murdered fro trivial things, like a cell phone? No item is worth a life!!
Zindy said:
on Thursday 01-Nov-18 10:25 AM
Every week I hear of someone I know who was a victim of fraud, a robbery, murder or assaulted. Its madness. People say there is a shortage of police officers but we spoke yesterday in our office about this. Criminals get realised from jail only to become a police officer. So do you entrust your life, Your children's lives in the possible hands of a rapist? Or a murder? Someone who was not stable to start off with? That's why most people take things into there own hands as this justice system is failing.
Bianca N said:
on Thursday 01-Nov-18 08:37 AM
It's sad that you can no longer feel safe even in your own home. We live in such a dangerous society that our children can't fully experience a childhood without any worries and be carefree. No matter how you try to protect them and keep them worry-free, you need to speak to them and warn them about things that a child should not be concerned about at their age. The statistics are really scary and we will need the SAPS to step up and make the necessary changes to keep the citizens safe again.
Brenda Du Toit said:
on Thursday 01-Nov-18 07:13 AM
Its sad to see what people can do to others like they said on the radio yesterday, why can't people not leave other's alone? if you want to rob me leave me and my family alone take everything you want.Why do you want to harm the people as well?Something needs to be done in South Africa they must bring the death penalty back.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
