teenager sex worker

A 28-year-old sex worker was allegedly raped by her client in Verulam, KZN. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

Crime stats: Over 10 800 people raped between January and March 2022

Minister Bheki Cele revealed the shockingly high number of reported rape cases for the first three months of this year.

teenager sex worker

A 28-year-old sex worker was allegedly raped by her client in Verulam, KZN. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

Minister of Police Bheki Cele released the quarter four crime statistics for 2021/2022.  The briefing was held in Pretoria on Friday, 3 June, where Cele touched on a number of topics – including rape.

The figures released on Friday reflect crime reported to the SAPS in the first three months of this year.

Number of reported sexual offences rose

There has been an increase of 1 666 in the number of sexual offences reported to the South African Police Service (SAPS) as compared to last year. In the first three months of 2022, the number of sexual offences increased by 13.7% to 13 799.

The stats were announced by Minister of Police Bheki Cele. The information compares lockdown Level 1 this year with lockdown Level 3 last year. However, the stats only include information that was REPORTED to the SAPS.

Over 10 800 rape cases were reported to the SAPS

Rape cases went up by 13.7%. An increase of 1 300 cases was reported making the number of rapes the police know about a massive 10 818. Almost half of the rape cases, a massive 4 635 rapes, took place at the home of the rape victim or the home of the rapist.

“Public parks, beaches, streets, open fields, parking areas and abandoned buildings were the second most likely places for rapes to occur,”

said Cele.

In 1 290 cases, liquor was reportedly involved.

Which areas had the highest cases reported?

The Eastern Cape’s Lusikisiki Police Station, Inanda Station in KwaZulu-Natal and Delft Police Station in the Western Cape recorded the highest incidents of rape for this quarter.

Contact sexual offences recorded a decrease, said Cele. Photo: Stock Image / Pixabay

In terms of sexual assault, cases reported to the SAPS stood at 2 165. Attempted sexual assault went up by 26.3% to 547 cases. Contact sexual offences recorded the only decrease in this crime category.

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