Murder Statistics Down in South Africa

September 13 - The South African police minister, Nathi Mthethwa told the media this week that the annual murder rate has fallen to its lowest level since the end of apartheid in 1995.

Nationwide records were recorded at 27,000 murders per year in 1995-1996, but these rates have dropped 8.6% to 'only' 17,000.

Before the World Cup, it was quoted that there were around 50 murders a day in South Africa, but the police minister said that this had dropped to 46 a day.

Nevertheless, South Africa still has the dubious honour of carrying the highest murder rates in the world - despite the decline.

Mthethewa said that the tide was turning against crime and criminals "as we push back the frontiers of evil."

He said that 46 out of South Africa's 50 most wanted criminals were now behind bars, mainly due to more police visibility.

Murder statistics were not the only numbers released by the minister.

The number of sexual offences dropped by 4.4%, while home burglaries and property theft increased.

High crime in South Africa is taking its toll on investment opportunities and the economy, while businesses are faced with ever increasing insurance and security costs as a result.

A political analyst with the independent economist group, NKC, Gary van Staden said: "Even if there are marginal declines, the high crime rates definitely have a negative impact on investor perceptions of South Africa.

President Jacob Zuma put all his efforts into reducing crime in time for the World Cup in a bid to attract visitors to the country, but many are complaining that now that the football extravaganza has ended, security has dropped off.