ASSOCIATION NEWS
News snippets from around the world With violent crime spiking, the push for police reform collides with voters’ fears One of the top candidates for mayor of New York is a former police captain who has said that addressing the city’s surging violent crime rate will be his highest priority. It has been less than a year since George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis, spawning a national movement to reimagine the American criminal justice system and end race-based abuses. Yet, with shootings spiking in cities nationwide during the pandemic, there are growing signs that the thirst for change is being blunted by fears of runaway crime. (Source: www.washingtonpost.com)
Drugs and alcohol abuse rage in crime stats In a single day, 105 people reported being raped, and the murder rate sits at 55 per day, according to South Africa’s latest police crime statistics, released last week. Other findings were that in the first three months of the year 9 518 people were raped and 4 976 murdered. Many victims of murder and rape knew their attackers. Reported assault cases have decreased from about 41 000 in the first quarter of 2020 to 36 000 in January to March 2021. Substance abuse has emerged as a reason for the spike in crimes during the first quarter of 2021. Police Minister Bheki Cele began his address by lamenting the death of 24 police officers, eleven of whom were killed while on duty. (Source: www.mg.co.za)
SARS, NPA join forces to combat tax crime The organisations announced in a joint statement that SARS (SA Revenue Service) commissioner Edward Kieswetter and NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) boss Shamila Batohi had agreed to further enhance their collaboration on non-compliance by employers. SARS and
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SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA MAY 2021
the NPA are joining forces to combat tax crime and non-compliance with tax laws, which they said erode both revenue and the integrity of the tax system. Some employers deduct PAYE (Pay As You Earn) but never turn those taxes over to SARS – as well as other general corrupt activities. (Source: www.ewn.co.za)
Magashule wants court bid heard urgently Suspended Afriw National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Ace Magashule has called for his court bid against the ANC to be heard on an urgent basis citing fears of intra-party violence if there’s a delay. In court papers filed to the Johannesburg High Court, and seen by Eyewitness News, President Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC Deputy SecretaryGeneral Jesse Duarte have also been cited as respondents in addition to the governing party. Magashule wants the court to enforce a suspension letter he issued to the governing party’s president, for his suspension and the step-aside resolution to be declared unlawful and to return to Luthuli House to manage the affairs of the ANC. (Source: www.ewn.co.za)
Alleged crime boss Modack charged with ordering hit on Detective Kinnear Alleged crime underworld figure Nafiz Modack has been charged with allegedly ordering the assassination of Anti-Gang Unit detective Charl Kinnear. Modack appeared at the Blue Downs Regional Court last Friday morning alongside four co-accused – among them an Anti-Gang Unit Member. Modack – along with Ricardo Morgan – also faces charges for their alleged role in the attempted hit on defence attorney William Booth. Nafiz Modack now joins Zane Kilian as the accused charged in connection with the September murder of Kinnear. They face over sixty charges. (Source: www.ewn.co.za)
UK police brace for rise in knife crime as lockdown restrictions lifted UK police are expecting an increase in knife crime and violence this summer as lockdown restrictions are lifted. Detectives fear spats between gangs will be settled on the streets as crowds return and pubs fully reopen, despite ONS (Office for National Statistics) figures showing recorded knife crime dropped nine per cent across England and Wales in 2020. The ONS said that
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