Criminals disguised in fancy clothes says police minister

ACTING  Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia has warned that organised crime networks, often disguised in “designer clothes and fancy suits,” are infiltrating political parties and state institutions, posing a growing threat to national security and public trust.

Speaking during the release of the latest crime stats yesterday, Cachalia highlighted the dual nature of criminality in the country. “Some people commit crime out of desperation. Others act out of greed and a lust for power and wealth,” he said, establishing structures that divert public funds and flood communities with drugs and weapons.

“Criminal networks fuel violence, entrench corruption and weaken democratic institutions. Organised crime undermines investment and prevents job creation,” he added.

Cachalia pointed to the Madlanga Commission and the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Inquiry investigating allegations of criminal networks influencing elected officials and senior police officers. He cited the appearance of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, a murder-accused businessman linked to a crime cartel, who arrived at the committee in expensive designer clothing.

“The damage that state capture has done to our country continues in different forms,” Cachalia said, noting the large-scale theft of funds from the Gauteng Health Department affecting Tembisa Hospital. “Tackling organised crime and its associated corruption must be a national priority. Follow the money and hit the criminals where it hurts, in their pockets.”

He stressed the need for fast prosecutions, strong witness protection, and a professional police service operating without fear or favour. “Most of the 187 000 employees of the SAPS are doing their best under extremely difficult conditions,” he said, while acknowledging that political interference has hampered law enforcement effectiveness.

Major General Thulare Sekhukhune, SAPS Registrar, delivered the statistics. The figures show a notable decline in murders but mixed results for other crime categories:

• Murders: 5 794 (this was 751 fewer or a drop of 11.5%)
• Sexual offences: 12,787 (this was 22 more or a rise of 0.2%)
• Rape: -37
• Sexual assault: -12
• Attempted sexual offences: +50
• Contact sexual offences: +21
• Attempted murder: +194
• Assault GBH: -743
• Common assault: +331
• Robbery with aggravating circumstances: -3 689
• Common robbery: -363
• Carjacking: -669
• Residential robbery: -864
• Non-residential robbery: -829
• Property crimes: -8 455
• Other serious crimes: -4 209
• Commercial crime: +948
• Drug offences: +9 214
• Driving under the influence: +4 391

Provincially, Gauteng contributed the largest share of national contact crime (26.4%), followed by the Western Cape (18%), KwaZulu-Natal (17.4%) and the Eastern Cape (10.6%). Only the Western Cape and Northern Cape recorded increases in contact crimes.

Top contact crime stations were concentrated in Cape Town and KwaZulu-Natal: Mfuleni, Nyanga, Delft, Inanda, and Kraaifontein. Murder trends show declines across all three months of the quarter, except for minor increases in the Western and Northern Cape. On a per-capita basis, the Eastern and Western Cape recorded about 15 murders per 100 000 people, KwaZulu-Natal 10, and Limpopo the lowest rate.

Police say that from a sample of 5 270 murders, 956 were linked to arguments, misunderstandings, road rage, and provocation; 328 occurred during robberies; and 315 were gang-related, mostly in the Western Cape. Most murders took place in public areas (2 790), followed by perpetrators’ homes (1 659), liquor outlets (196), business premises (83), spaza shops (80), and schools (12).

During the period under review law enforcement suffered heavy losses: 27 security guards and 23 police officers were killed in three months, highlighting the dangers officers face even off duty.

Cachalia outlined three priorities: tackling organised crime, professionalising the police service, and implementing the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy.

The strategy addresses both prevention and enforcement, with seven priorities including early childhood development, reducing GBV, creating safe public spaces, combating substance abuse, strengthening local government capacity, rehabilitating offenders, and improving co-ordination and data accountability.

Cachalia highlighted private-sector partnerships through the Joint Initiative on Combating Crime and Corruption, pilot projects modernising police stations, and support for border security. He praised a DPCI officer who recently refused a R100 000 bribe linked to the Tembisa investigation, signalling that public trust can be restored when integrity is unquestionable.

“Criminal networks, gang violence, and systemic corruption threaten the safety, economy, and future of South Africa,” Cachalia said. “We must act decisively, professionally, and collaboratively to reclaim our communities and restore faith in law enforcement.