The percentage of murders in the Western Cape increased by 10.9% between July and September this year.
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This is according to the second quarter crime statistics, which noted that murders in the province increased from 1050 during the same period last year to 1 164 in 2023.
The Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) deployment areas, including Delft, Gugulethu, Harare, and others, experienced an 18.6% increase in murders, reaching 649 cases compared to 547 in the previous financial year.
LEAP areas, strategically targeting high-crime zones, accounted for the majority of murder increases. Excluding these areas, the overall murder rate in the Western Cape rose by 2.4%.
Decreases in homicides were recorded in the following three areas in which LEAP officers are deployed:
- Kraaifontein (11.1%)
- Nyanga (11.3%)
- Philippi East (14.8%)
Increases in homicides were recorded in the following areas in which LEAP officers are deployed:
- Bishop Lavis (192.9%)
- Delft (15.9%)
- Gugulethu (55.9%)
- Harare (20.8%)
- Khayelitsha (2.1%)
- Mfuleni (56.5%)
- Mitchells Plain (35.5%)
- Philippi (56.3%) and
- Samora Machel (26.5%)
There was no change in Atlantis.
The Western Cape Government (WCG) noted that factors contributing to the rise in homicides include a violent mini-bus taxi strike in August 2023, mass murders in Gugulethu, and disputes accounting for 33% of murders. Gang-related killings, representing 78% of such murders nationally, remain a concern.
As per the latest data released by the South African Police Service (SAPS), murder rates across the country increased by 9.2% to 27 494, while murder in the Western Cape increased by 1% to 4 150 for the 2022/23 financial year.
‘The latest figures are disappointing and worrying. But they show that we need to double down and intensify all our efforts to more effectively address violent crime,’ says Western Cape Premier Alan Winde.
‘We need to be even more diligent in strengthening our coordination with the SAPS, municipal law enforcement, and community-based organisations through our data-led, evidence-based approach to policing. The current national policing model is failing our residents. Chronic and consistent under-resourcing in our province is also clearly a deadly factor that has reversed our initial gains in pushing down murders.’
Winde says the WCG is investing heavily in becoming more proactive in addressing the causes of crime. ‘Job creation is key to uplifting communities, reducing poverty, and keeping at-risk youth out of harm’s way. We are also using health data to better inform and guide how we use health resources to respond to violent crime. This kind of data, along with crime statistics and other sources of information, also give us valuable insights into crime trends.’
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Picture: JP Smith / Facebook