UNIVEN partners with TUT and SAPS to Discuss Crime Statistics

The University of Venda’s School of Law, through the Department of Criminal Justice in the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, in partnership with Tshwane University of Technology and the South African Police Service (SAPS), convened a crime statistics seminar themed ‘Beyond the Numbers: Unveiling the Dark Figures of Crime’. This seminar took place on Wednesday, 03 September 2025, at the UNIVEN Sports Hall. This event sought to explore the realities behind crime statistics, challenge conventional narratives and shed light on underreported criminal activity.

When welcoming attendees, the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, Prof Modimowabarwa Kanyane noted that this seminar comes in the wake of a recent loss of a student to crime and expressed heartfelt condolences.

Prof Kanyane stated that the seminar aims to discuss crime statistics and find ways to tackle the country’s crime issues. He officially opened the seminar, calling for unity in addressing issues.

Dr Khethiwe Madima, HOD of Criminal Justice at the University of Venda, welcomed attendees to the Crime Statistics Seminar, themed ‘Beyond the Numbers and Bathing the Dark Figures of Crime.’ The seminar aims to “go deeper, to share knowledge, exchange ideas and reflect on the impact of unreported crime.” Dr Madima noted that crime statistics are not just numbers, but represent real people and lives lost, citing the recent murder of a student, Vhulondo Nevhuka-langa, as a stark reminder of this. She emphasised that the seminar sought to raise awareness about how underreporting distorts the true picture of crime. She challenged the students to de-velop meaningful research topics that address real problems in our local communities with the goal of aligning efforts to strengthen the reliability and accuracy of crime statistics in South Africa through collaboration and innovative research. Brigadier Kgotloana Manthata, Limpopo Provincial Head of the Crime Registrar, presented the province’s crime overview, highlighting key statistics on murder, sexual offenses, and rape. Ac-cording to the data, Limpopo recorded 179 murders and 1,227 sexual offense cases in the first quarter of 2025.
Rape cases in Limpopo decreased by 3.7% compared to the same period last year, with 1,039 cases reported. Thohoyandou police station ranked highest in the country for reported rape cases. The presentation also touched on domestic violence, with females being three times more likely to be assaulted and seven times more likely to be victims of common assault in domestic settings.

Ms Tshilidzi Makhado, Investigations Manager at the University of Venda, presented crime statistics for the institution, highlighting the prevalence of theft, particularly clothing, laptops, food and cell phones. She noted that most theft occurs in residences without cameras, with students often stealing from each other, especially during exam periods when valuables are left unattended. As-sault is another common crime, often linked to excessive alcohol and drug consumption, which leads to violent behaviour. “When students are under the influence of alcohol and drugs, they tend to get violent and assault each other,” she said. Cyberbullying and gender-based violence (GBV) are also on the rise, with four cases of GBV recently reported following a recent student murder incident. Makhado encouraged students to report issues and use anonymous whis-tleblowing services, stressing the value of awareness campaigns, collaborations with SAPS, and stakeholder engagement in addressing these concerns.

Mr Londani Magau from the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud highlighted various com-mercial crimes affecting the community, particularly the elderly and students. “We’ve received 36 complaints related to contract fraud, with 34 directed at people over 60,” Magau said, noting cas-es of ID theft and unauthorised cellphone contracts. He also warned the audience about online scams, including students buying goods from unverified sellers on WhatsApp and social media, and cases of hotel booking scams. “Be very careful when buying goods online,” Magau advised, emphasising the importance of vigilance and awareness in preventing such crimes.

The respondents commended the SAPS and UNIVEN Protection Services for presenting crime statistics, noting that the statistics do not capture the full picture due to underreporting, espe-cially in rural areas and among certain groups like men and boys. They highlighted the need for proactive approaches, suggesting that universities should develop safety plans and create plat-forms for students to report crimes without fear. Respondents also recommended integrating crime statistics into university curricula and fostering collaboration between law enforcement, NGOs, and communities to address crime effectively. Concerns were raised about specific crimes like GBV, cyberbullying, and fraud, with calls for more support for victims and accountability for perpetrators. Brigadier Michael Ntwa Medupi and Retired Colonel Rudzani Rakhadani conveyed messages of support. Medupi outlined potential collaborations between SAPS and institutions of higher learning, while Rakhadani noted that crime statistics “represent stolen lives, shattered homes, and communities living in constant fear,” and called for a paradigm shift to address the root causes of crime.

Prof Lonias Ndlovu, Director of the School of Law at UNIVEN delivered a vote of thanks while praising the presenters, including Brigadier Kgotloana Manthata and Ms Tshilidzi Makhado for shedding light on critical crime statistics. Prof Ndlovu also commended the respondents for their insightful discussions, saying, “You gave us quite a lot of homework.” He expressed appreciation for the messages of support and urged the Department of Criminal Justice to swiftly negotiate an MoU with SAPS.

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Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811