Crime-weary South Africa's new safety minister vowed Wednesday to deal with high violence levels and teach criminals a lesson, saying police in the "killing fields" had to fight fire with fire.

Addressing parliament, Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa said his main priority would be fighting organised crime, improving crime intelligence and strengthening the capacity of task forces.

"We don't believe that when you are faced, as SAPS (South African Police Services) are on a daily basis, with criminals armed with sophisticated weaponry, their task would be to take out and flash some human rights charter," he said.

"Because we are in the killing field where criminals are killing law-abiding citizens ... we ourselves have an obligation to strengthen the arm of these task forces so they are able on the field to teach those people a lesson, fight fire by fire, there is no other way on that."

South Africa is one of the world's most violent countries with over 50 murders committed a day, with crimes such as housebreaking, hijacking and cash heists often accompanied by high rates of murder, torture and violence.

A nationwide campaign would be held from 24 November to 5 December to "hear the views of people on how to fight crime" as part of the review of the criminal justice system, he said.

Mthethwa became safety minister following a recent cabinet shake-up as the new leadership of the ruling party pushed through a controversial law disbanding the elite crime-fighting Scorpions unit, prompting concern about the police's ability to fight serious crimes.

However, Mthethwa said ways were being looked at to improve flagging police morale, including improving their often meagre salaries.

A recent study by the main opposition Democratic Alliance showed most police were depressed and struggling without bulletproof vests, cars, firearms and other basic equipment.

"These things are expensive, we can only buy so much," Mthethwa told AFP, adding that this was however a government priority.

He said his department was investing in equipment and training to improve forensic capability and strengthening its intelligence section.

AFP