Murder mostly due to drinking - Mthethwa

About 65 percent of the country's murders resulted from arguments fuelled by substance abuse, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa announced on Thursday.

Unveiling the 2011/12 crime statistics, Mthethwa said the country's murder rate had dropped by 3.1 percent since the previous reporting period.

"Murder is one of the most reliable trends of crime statistics," Mthethwa said.

In 2004/5 more than 18,000 people were murdered. Less than 16,000 murders were reported in 2011/12.

"This translates to a 27.6 percent reduction in murders over an eight year period," said Mthethwa.

He said research had shown that most murders were committed after an interpersonal argument, stimulated by heavy drinking and drug abuse.

Murder is one of seven categories grouped together as contact crimes.

The other categories are attempted murder, sexual offences, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, common assault, aggravated robbery and common robbery.

"The crimes in question account for 29,9 percent of South Africa's serious crimes; such crimes involve physical contact (usually violent and coercive in nature) between perpetrators and their victims."

All provinces except the Free State, Limpopo and the Western Cape experienced a decrease in contact crimes.

"In the 2010/11 financial year, contact crime decreased by 6.9 percent and for the financial year under review, we recorded a decrease in 3.5 percent." - Sapa

Government commission recommends semi-legalisation of cannabis

A Government commission has recommended that Rastafarians be allowed to carry on them at least 100g of cannabis for spiritual reasons without prosecution.

The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, says the Ministry of Police also needs to reclassify the 1911 ban on dagga in South Africa.

The recommendations have been submitted to various government departments including education, justice and constitutional development and communications.

The Commission says they aim to engage Government departments in order to change the perception that society has on the religion and to build tolerance for Rastafarians.

The Rasta community says they feel ignored and that their religion is disregarded because some people do not understand them. They claim to be harassed daily because of their spiritual path.
 
Some of the recommendations made is that the Ministry of Police allows the Rastafarians to carry, on them, at least 100g of cannabis. They are also calling on the media to change the way they portray their religion.
 
They have also called on Police to end alleged harassment and prejudice against Rastas. (from SABCNews)