The latest quarterly crime statistics have revealed that crime has increased in five townships across the Western Cape. Despite improved figures for the province, five townships – Gugulethu, Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha among them – have shown an increased crime rate, EWN reports.
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Provincial community safety MEC Reagan Allen says the department continues to invest in officers so that these figures can be reduced.
‘I’m deeply concerned about the continued increases that we are experiencing in the Mitchells Plain and Gugulethu, and now in Khayelitsha and Harare.’
He says the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) uses data and evidence to curb crime. ‘As LEAP is data-led and evidence-based, we will utilise the information that is at our disposal to ensure these concerns are addressed.’
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According to the Western Cape Government, increases in homicides were recorded in these areas, in which LEAP officers were deployed:
- Bishop Lavis (25%)
- Gugulethu (37.2%)
- Mitchells Plain (15%)
- Khayelitsha (11.9%)
- Harare (16%)
- Mfuleni (10%)
Furthermore, decreases in homicides were recorded in these areas:
- Atlantis (14.3%)
- Delft (1.6%)
- Philippi East (26.1%)
- Kraaifontein (48.2%)
- Philippi (12.5%)
- Nyanga (4%)
- Samora Machel (57.1%)
Overall, the province recorded a 5.5% reduction in the murder rate, representing a consecutive decrease as rates declined by 14.1% during the fourth quarter of the previous financial year.
This is a decrease of 55 murders from the 994 murders recorded during the first quarter of the 2022/23 financial year to 939.
‘The latest figures are encouraging. They reflect the hard work our women and men in blue are doing to further beat back crime, putting themselves at risk. I applaud our crime-fighting community for everything they do. You are making a big difference,’ says Western Cape Premier Alan Winde.
‘But fighting crime is complex and we are demonstrating that by utilising data, evidence, and technology, we can make inroads, despite the odds. We, however, still have a very long way to go. Our job is far from done and we must continue with this momentum, using the Western Cape Safety Plan as our guide, in using the resources that we have we must keep battling crime. Keeping residents safe means offering them dignity.’
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