Crime statistics released

The South African Police National Crime Information Management Centre released statistics that confirm South Africa's status as the most violent country in the world excluding war zones. The figures reveal that 10 161 people were murdered in the first seven months of 1995, an average of one in every 29 minutes. This marks a 7% reduction, a big improvement, as compared to 1994. National Police Commissioner George Fivaz warned earlier that unless more funding was provided to police services, South Africa risked becoming a gangster state. It was noted that violent crimes continue to have a serious impact on Black communities, with Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal being the most affected areas. In a related development, several car manufacturers decided to have anti-theft devices fitted in their cars.