President Thabo Mbeki has rejected accusations that the government is not serious about crime by pointing out that the police's budget will increase by 600percent - from R7,7billion in 1994-95, to an estimated R43,6billion by the end of the 2009-10 financial year.
President Thabo Mbeki has rejected accusations that the government is not serious about crime by pointing out that the police's budget will increase by 600percent - from R7,7billion in 1994-95, to an estimated R43,6billion by the end of the 2009-10 financial year.
Mbeki was speaking during the debate on his state of the nation address in parliament yesterday.
About crime statistics, Mbeki said crime in the country largely affected the poor and most murders, rapes and assaults occurred in these communities between people who knew each other.
He made a plea to all political parties to put aside their differences and work towards a national consensus on all issues including crime, poverty and social development. - Waghied Misbach