The Democratic Alliance (DA) has submitted a formal application under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to compel the South African Police Service (SAPS) and Acting Police Minister to release the long-overdue first quarter crime statistics.
According to DA Spokesperson on Police, Lisa Schickerling, the party has made two previous written requests and issued two media statements calling for the urgent release of the data. Despite repeated promises, the figures remain unpublished, with no explanation from SAPS or the Ministry.
Schickerling says it is unacceptable that the first quarter statistics are still being withheld, especially as the release of the second quarter figures is now due. She says the lack of transparency undermines public trust and the public’s right to know the true state of safety in the country.
The DA maintains that crime statistics belong to the people of South Africa, not to SAPS or the Minister. The information is crucial for measuring police performance, identifying crime trends, and ensuring proper allocation of resources.
The delay, the DA warns, raises questions about interference, dysfunction, or manipulation within SAPS management, and further exposes leadership failures in the Police Ministry.
The party has called for the immediate release of the first quarter statistics, a full explanation for the delay, and a commitment that future crime data will be published on time without political interference.
Schickerling says if the Acting Minister and SAPS continue to withhold the information, the DA will take all available legal and parliamentary steps to ensure accountability.
She adds that South Africans deserve transparency and truth — concealing crime data only deepens mistrust and weakens oversight at a time when violent crime continues to rise.
According to DA Spokesperson on Police, Lisa Schickerling, the party has made two previous written requests and issued two media statements calling for the urgent release of the data. Despite repeated promises, the figures remain unpublished, with no explanation from SAPS or the Ministry.
Schickerling says it is unacceptable that the first quarter statistics are still being withheld, especially as the release of the second quarter figures is now due. She says the lack of transparency undermines public trust and the public’s right to know the true state of safety in the country.
The DA maintains that crime statistics belong to the people of South Africa, not to SAPS or the Minister. The information is crucial for measuring police performance, identifying crime trends, and ensuring proper allocation of resources.
The delay, the DA warns, raises questions about interference, dysfunction, or manipulation within SAPS management, and further exposes leadership failures in the Police Ministry.
The party has called for the immediate release of the first quarter statistics, a full explanation for the delay, and a commitment that future crime data will be published on time without political interference.
Schickerling says if the Acting Minister and SAPS continue to withhold the information, the DA will take all available legal and parliamentary steps to ensure accountability.
She adds that South Africans deserve transparency and truth — concealing crime data only deepens mistrust and weakens oversight at a time when violent crime continues to rise.
