No need to panic over thousands of unsolved murder cases - SAPS
Over 76,600 unsolved murder cases have been closed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) between 2018 and 2023.
FILE: Police tape at a crime scene. Picture: Thomas Holder/Eyewitness News
Africa Melane speaks with Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya, Deputy National Police Commissioner responsible for Crime Detection.
Listen to the interview in the audio below.
Over 76,600 unsolved murder cases have been closed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) between 2018 and 2023.
In addition this, more than 40,000 unsolved attempted murder cases and 141,026 unsolved assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm cases were also closed during the same period.
ALSO READ:
90% of murder dockets were unsolved in 2023 - Violence Prevention Expert
We have lost the war on crime. We can’t keep doing the same thing – Mmusi Maimane
The total number of unsolved cases that have been closed for this period exceeds 5 million.
Sibiya says that these cases can be reopened and redrawn if additional evidence comes up or if a suspect is found.
He adds that even if a docket is technically closed and stored, the case is still running and will be pulled when there is a DNA match.
“On a weekly basis we arrest people based on these same cases we are talking about.”
- Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya, Deputy National Police Commissioner responsible for Crime Detection
He adds that these numbers of unsolved cases are not concerning because they will continue to pursue them and make arrests.
“These are not dead dockets that are idling somewhere gathering dust.”
- Lt Gen Shadrack Sibiya, Deputy National Police Commissioner responsible for Crime Detection
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.