The Western Cape has seen the greatest increase in murders reported by 11 police stations. This was discovered in the most recent crime data on Friday, reports Cape {town} Etc.
Also read: Crime stats: Cape Town has become a hotspot for carjackings
According to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, crime is increasing in general. Murder, rape, hijacking, kidnapping for ransom, and extortion are the most serious crimes that authorities should be concerned about.
‘Four of the nine provinces recorded increases in murder cases, with the highest increase recorded in the Western Cape, followed by North West, then the Eastern Cape and Limpopo.
‘All the top 30 stations for murder were in only four provinces, namely Western Cape (11 stations), KZN (8), Eastern Cape (6) and Gauteng (5). The leading stations among them were Nyanga, followed by Inanda, uMlazi, Khayelitsha and Harare.
‘If we look at the ratio of murders committed, per capita per province, (that is, ratio per 100 000 of the population), the Eastern Cape stands at 17.6%, followed by the Western Cape at 15.3 %, then KwaZulu-Natal at 12.3% and lastly, Gauteng at 8.3%. It is worth noting that the Limpopo province recorded 3.3% per capita, making it the safest province in as far as murder is concerned.
Find your perfect set of wheels with these incredible deals on cars for under 100k. Find car listings here.
‘These numbers tell a sobering story, reflecting the severity of the challenges we face. These numbers represent more than just figures on a page; they reflect the lived realities of our citizens – their fears, their losses, and their hopes for a safer tomorrow.
‘The data is a stark reminder of the urgent need for action. We are confronted with a crisis that threatens the safety of our communities and undermines the stability of our nation. Contact crimes, in particular, are wreaking havoc and instilling fear. This is unacceptable, and we must confront this challenge with unwavering resolve and strategic precision.’
Mchunu noted that firearms were regularly used in killings, especially in KZN, the Western Cape, Gauteng, and the Eastern Cape. Knives were the most commonly used murder weapon in the Eastern and Western Capes.
Between April and June of this year, Cape Town Central police received the most serious crime reports in the country.
There were 2 958 cases reported, an increase of 193. Mitchells Plain has dropped 153 points and now ranks third in the country.
Out of 270 gang-related occurrences, 234 occurred in the province.
The Cape Town Central Police has seen an upsurge in contact crimes and is now in the top ten in the province.
Nyanga became the murder capital of the quarter after killing 79 people in just three months.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city, at half the price? Get exclusive offers here.
Premier Alan Winde stated during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between South African Police Services, the province, and the City that intelligence technology and capabilities would be used to combat crime.
‘The crime stats that were released… those numbers really impact me. I look at murder stats and look at the areas across the province with the highest numbers of murder and contact crimes standing on top of that list.
‘I think of GBV, extortion, it’s really hitting everyone hard. I wouldn’t blame people for being cynical. We will stand together to make sure we build a safer province.
‘Citizens find it scarier to walk at night and scarier during the day. We need to make sure those numbers become better. The Government of National Unity signals the time for change to make sure we are going to build a safer society.’
Also read:
Winde and Allen call out Cele for delayed crime stats release
Picture: Alan Winde / Facebook
