Police Minister Bheki Cele says aggravated robberies, such as carjacking, have increased by 13.8%. According to Cele, there were 661 more carjacking cases in the period of October to December 2021.
Releasing the crime statistics in Cape Town on Friday, 18 February, Cele said robberies at residential premises dipped by 0.4% and robberies at non-residential premises increased by 86 cases, reports SA News.
The Western Cape has seen a murderous week following a Worcester man who was handed a sentence of 25 years for killing three women in Wolseley, further adds IOL.
In his report, Bheki Cele said that out of the 6 859 people killed in the country between October and December, 902 were women and 352 were children.
“I do not know how it happens,” said Cele according to IOL, reacting to the sentence. “I always wonder what happened. I am not going to sit here and query these things. But I would really like to hear how do you kill and get those years.”
In Cape Town, at least 24 people were murdered in the past week, 15 being men and nine women. This is the highest number recorded of women being murdered in just a week.
Meanwhile, the Western Cape police commissioner Major-General Thembisile Patekile further mentioned the high number of murders was a concern. Five areas – Delft, Kraaifontein, Mfuleni, Gugulethu and Harare – are in the top 10 areas with the most murders.
However, the Western Cape has shown a 6.9% decrease in murders and a 24.5% decrease in attempted murders compared to the prior quarter in the province.
“Cash-in-transit heists also decreased during this reporting period. There were five fewer cash vans targeted by criminals compared to the previous reporting period,” Cele explained.
With regard to kidnappings, Cele said 2 605 cases were opened with the police.
“This crime trend has shown a decrease in only two provinces and the leading motive for this crime is high-jacking, followed by robbery and rape-related kidnappings,” Cele said.
Cele said there have been 686 more cases of kidnapping, compared to the same comparative period. He said the crime figures released today show how far a solid plan, targeted policing and resourcing can go.
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