More deaths occur in the Cape on weekends than during the working week. Speaking at the Safer Western Cape Conference earlier this week, provincial police commissioner, Khombinkosi Jula, said that 53% of deaths happen on weekends.
This percentage comes from statistics on the primary motives for murder in the Cape province between 2017 and 2018. The statistics show that gang-related crimes account for 22% of deaths, robberies account for 8.1%, domestic violence for 5.1%, taxi violence for 2.1%, and arguments (that turn violent) for 13.2%.
“The top instruments used to commit murder in the province included sharp objects at 8.6%, knives at 25.3% and firearms at 42.3%. The main time period for which these instruments were used to commit murder was from 6pm to 12.59am, which accounted for a combined total of 54.3,” Jula said. “Reduction of robberies will be made by addressing repeat offenders, confiscation of firearms and dangerous weapons, and [the] policing of hotspots.”
Police will address vigilantism by interacting with communities to strengthen local policing forums, hastening police reaction-time and addressing the four major contributing factors to crime in the province: alcohol, drugs, firearms, and so-called “persons of interest”.
Jula stated that gang violence is most prevalent in neighbourhoods like Kraaifontein, Phillipi and Delft, while domestic violence is most often reported in Delt, Kraaifontein and Gugulethu. Robberies, meanwhile, are predominant in Mfuleni, Khayelitsha, Kraaifontein, and Nyanga.
Speaking to IOL, MEC for Community Safety Alan Winde said the key to making the province safe again lies in empowering communities to take back their streets.
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