Alarming Unresolved Crime Rate in South Africa: Over 75,000 Murders Among Unsolved Cases

A recent report has brought to light a crises in the South African Police Service (SAPS) with over 6.2 million cases left unsolved, including 75,000 murders, placing the country's crime and justice system under serious scrutiny. This data comes following a request by the Democratic Alliance (DA) for case dockets closed without result from the 2018/2019 financial year to date.

The figure depicts a grim and escalating situation, surpassing the 5.4 million previously reported cases. It is a worrying indicator of the challenges faced by the crime investigatory bodies in South Africa. According to the current Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, these cases were closed without resolution due to insufficient evidence or leads. The sheer enormity of the unresolved crimes has drawn criticism and deep concern from both political and civil society.

Action Society, a civil rights organisation, has voiced its apprehension, highlighting not only the volume of unresolved cases but also the simultaneous decline in detective resources. The organisation noted an acute shortage of 8,500 detectives, which is compounded by the exit of more seasoned officers - 527 detectives voluntarily left the force within a nine-month period.

Juanita du Preez, the spokesperson for Action Society, expressed the critical need for specialized personnel to tackle this catastrophic backlog of crime investigations. In her statement, du Preez also made a poignant comparison of South Africa to a war zone, revealing the growing fear and insecurity among citizens in their own homes.

In the Western Cape alone, a total of 274,370 case dockets were closed, marking a particularly high regional unresolved crime rate. Despite the palpable frustrations, Action Society sees a possible turnaround with the new ministerial appointment, having reached out to Minister Mchunu with suggested strategies to mitigate the nation's crime predicament.

The DA's response has been to petition for a parliamentary intervention. They call for the Minister and National Commissioner of the SAPS to face the Portfolio Committee on Police and furnish a comprehensive plan that addresses these systemic failures. This discussion is awaited by many as the nation grapples with the overwhelming statistics and seeks to restore a measure of justice and safety.