Our worst fears were confirmed yesterday when Police Minister Nathi Nhleko released the national crime statistics. Nhleko, together with the embattled police commissioner General Riah Phiyega, announced there had been an increase in contact crimes, which include murder, attempted murder, assault and sexual offences.Murder was up by 4.6%, attempted murder by 3.2% and aggravated robbery by 8.5%.To check your own suburb, visit http://crimestatssa.com/index.phpIn a country where close to 50 people are murdered every day, the minister tells us that, despite the statistics, there is a good story to tell after all.The problem we face is leaders who have buried their heads in the sand and only listen to their own spin.South Africa today is more dangerous and unless we wake up soon, criminals will be running the show.We are afraid the shadow of dismissed police chief Bheki Cele looms large today and the talk in the streets is of calling on him to come back.It should concern Nhleko, Phiyega and President Jacob Zuma that under their watch we are living in fear.The fact is that robberies at residential premises (our homes) have increased by 5.2% to 20281. Yesterday's stats tell a story of many South Africans who have been attacked in their homes.They tell of a country that is overwhelmed by crime.Phiyega spends her time engaging in politics, refuses to own up to the police disaster at Marikana, and she will today deny that crime is on the rise.The continuing instability of the SAPS and other security agencies has a direct impact on the morale of our police officers.While we accept that the police alone cannot secure our lives, it is the duty of our leaders to be upfront with the nation.Together we can fight this scourge instead of seeking good stories to tell while criminals hold the country to ransom...