S. Africa sees 4.9 pct increase in murder

South Africa saw a 4.9 percent increase in murder for the period 2015/16, compared to the previous financial year, statistics released on Friday showed.

This means that around 51 people were murdered every day in South Africa, up from 49 in 2014/15, according to the statistics presented by Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko in Parliament.

Meanwhile, attempted murder increased by 3.4 percent, with 49 cases on average reported every day.

Aggravated robbery increased by 2.7 percent with 363 incidences every day on average, while robbery at residential premises increased by 2.7 percent, with 57 houses on average broken into every day.

Car hijackings increased by 14.3 percent, with 40 hijackings taking place every day on average.

However, Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko told MPs that, broadly speaking, crime in South Africa decreased.

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) refuted the notion, saying crimes such as sexual assault, murder, attempted murder, aggravated robbery and hijacking are the crimes that keep South Africans in constant fear and awake at night.

"These are the crimes that nightmares are made of," DA Shadow Minister of Police Zakhele Mbhele said.

"The statistics released today are an account of how thousands of South Africans become victims of crime every day," he said.

Violent crime remains unacceptably high, having a direct impact on how unsafe South Africans feel, Mbhele said. Endit