Police focused on a drop in murder and rape in their latest crime statistics, but acknowledged an increase in robberies was troubling, according to AP. The figures released Thursday were for a six-month period, departing from the tradition of releasing results only annually after the business community pressed for more frequent reporting. The report came only days before President Thabo Mbeki was to face what was expected to be a restive conference of his African National Congress, which already has signaled impatience with his leadership. Crime is one of the areas on which he is on the defensive. «It is a critical matter. We have to attend to this matter of crime,» Mbeki said earlier this week in a rare interview, during which he also took call-in questions from listeners, broadcast by the state broadcaster. Mbeki's rival, Jacob Zuma, was expected to wrest party leadership in a vote at the weekend conference, and two callers pressed Mbeki to just drop out of the race. Zuma would be in line to run for the country's presidency _ and likely win, given the ANC's strength _ if he wins the party leadership. Mbeki is prevented from constitutional term limits from running again for president of the country, but could use the party leadership to push his candidate _ and squelch Zuma. The two men differ in style, with Mbeki seen as coolly cerebral and the populist Zuma appealing to the party's left wing. On substance, Zuma has in recent weeks tried to court the business community, indicating he would not veer too far from the free market policies of Mbeki that are credited with boosting growth, if not quickly translating into alleviating poverty. While the business community has lauded Mbeki's economic policies, it has repeatedly accused him of doing too little to stop crime. This has not been helped by allegations that Mbeki has been protecting the national police commissioner Jackie Selebi, a close ally, from arrest on charges of corruption, fraud and racketeering. Mbeki suspended the head of the national prosecuting authority, Vusi Pikoli, in September soon after he had obtained a warrant for Selebi's arrest. The warrant was withdrawn. Selebi, who was not present at the announcement of the new crime statistics, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. According to the latest statistics, murders dropped 5.7 percent from 9,464 from April to September 2006 to 8,925 for the same period this year. Rape fell 2.6 percent from 23,507 reported cases to 22,887. However, of concern is the 53.3 percent spike in the number of trucks being hijacked and a 29.3 percent increase in robberies at business premises that Thursday's figures revealed. House robberies went up 7 percent, making home and the workplace the most dangerous places for South Africans to be. «These phenomena touch the very essence of personal privacy and security. It also creates an international image of South Africa which is not conducive to investment and tourism,» a report released with the statistics said. South Africa, which has among the highest murder and rape rates in the world, has gained an international reputation as a violent society _ something the government is keen to counter, especially ahead of hosting the 2010 World Cup soccer tournament. Thursday, bail was denied for the two men accused of murdering former Austrian footballer Peter Burgstaller. The Nov. 23 robbing and shooting of Burgstaller on a golf course near Durban coincided with the preliminary draw for the World Cup. A new hearing was set Jan. 23 in the robbery and murder case against Thokozisi Msani, 25, and his 21-year-old brother Simo Msani.
