DA accuses Cele of 'shelving' crime stats ahead of May polls

Source: EWN Traffic
Author: Nokukhanya Mntambo

JOHANNESBURG - The Democratic Alliance has accused Police Minister Bheki Cele of shelving the fourth quarter crime statistics, in what the opposition party has described as a political move ahead of this month's elections.

DA MP Andrew Whitfield said that the latest crime stats were scheduled to be released on Friday.

He claims the police minister deliberately pushed the date back.

Whitfield added that he suspects Cele is behind a cover-up to score cheap political points for the governing ANC.

"He's deliberately shelving these crime statistics because they inevitably paint a far worse picture of the crime situation in South Africa. We know that violent crime is up across all major categories and has been up over the last three quarters."

Whitfield said that the DA has now written to National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola to demand the immediate release of the stats.

"Last year, SAPS issued the 'Pre-release crime statistics release calendar' for the 2023/24 financial year which provided all of the dates on which the crime statistics would be released. Every other scheduled release date has been adhered to until now.'