David Beresford

Car hijackings and residential robberies were up by 6 per cent and 25.4 per cent respectively.

More than 19,000 people were murdered in South Africa over the last year, according to statistics released by Pretoria on Tuesday.

Murder was not the only category of major crime to have risen. In the two areas which particularly alarm middle-class South Africans — car hijackings and residential robberies — the figures were up by 6 per cent and 25.4 per cent respectively.

The statistics, which in the past the government has tried to cover up, are likely to once again raise questions about South Africa’s fitness to stage the 2010 football World Cup.

They show that the murder rate has risen by 2.4 per cent to 19,202. Rape, however, is down by 5.2 per cent. Banks and businesses appear to be particular targets of crime, with bank robberies more than doubling; a 52.5 per cent rise in robberies at business premises; and a 21.9 per cent rise in heists on armoured cars. The figures represent a setback for the police, who had hoped to see a reduction of up to 10 per cent in serious crimes.

Officials were trying to put a brave face on the statistics on Tuesday. The Minister of Safety and Security, Charles Nqakula ,said: “The report on crime trends showed that crime levels in South Africa continue to drop. We are deeply concerned, though, that crime continues to be rife and that the crime rate continues to be high.

“The fact that instances of serious and violent crime are very high is disconcerting and unacceptable.”

Opposition parties on Tuesday reacted to the figures by describing crime in South Africa as being “out of control.” —

Guardian Newspapers Limited 2007