South African Police Decry Increased Crime Rate
South Africa's police minister on Friday decried a "brutal" surge in murders and other violent crime, in a nation that was already among the world's most dangerous.
"The first three months of this year were violent, brutal and unsafe for many South Africans," Bheki Cele told a news conference.
Between January and March, 6,083 people were killed - a 22.2 percent increase from the same period last year.
The killings took an especially alarming toll among children, leaving 306 dead, a 37.2 percent increase, he said.
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Reported sexual offenses rose by 13.7 percent, with 10,818 people raped.
Kidnappings showed the sharpest increase, with 3,306 cases reported -- more than double the number from a year ago.
"The qu...