Provincial Commissioner, Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene, in her address during the release of the 1st Quarter 2023/2024 crime statistics reiterated the SAPS’s commitment to tackling crime remains unwavering. ‘We acknowledge that the challenges presented by increases and are implementing a comprehensive strategy to address them. At the same time, we celebrate the successes in the reduction of crime in certain categories and we will continue to work tirelessly to maintain these positive trends. It is through the increase of visible policing and conducting disruptive operations targeting high crime areas that we are starting to see improvements.’
On Friday, 8 September 2023, the MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Honourable Mr Xolile Nqatha officiated the release of the crime statistics at the council chambers in Matatiele. The Crime Statistics reflected on the period from 1st April to 30th June 2023.
A total of 37 708 crimes were reported during the 1st quarter of 2022/2023 cycle in comparison to the 37 427 reported crimes during the 1st quarter of 2023/2024 cycle. In the province, overall, the 17 community reported serious crimes decreased by 280 cases (0.7%). Five of the eight districts depicted increases in 17 community reported serious crimes, while Amathole, Buffalo City Metro and Sarah Baartman districts depicted decreases. The districts that contributed most to this category of crime are Nelson Mandela with 24.1%, whilst depicting a decrease of 0.2%, and Buffalo City Metro with a contribution of 19% depicting a decrease of 4.6% and OR Tambo with a contribution of 13.9% indicating an increase of 6.7%. The top five stations identified as hotspots in 17 community reported serious crimes are East London (ranked number 18 National), Mthatha, Humewood, Cambridge and Mount Road
The following crimes falling under the contact crime category depicted increases, attempted murders (6.7%), assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (4.2%), common assault (5.7%) and common robbery (3.9%). Murders, sexual offences and robbery aggravated depicted decreases of (5.1%), (4.5%) and (4.5%) respectively. Trio crimes overall depicted a decrease of 5.3% with carjacking and business robberies indicating decreases of 3% and 17.5% respectively. House robberies depicted an increase of 8.3%.
The following sexual offences depicted decreases, rape (2.6%), sexual assault (23.6%), and contact sexual offences (27.3%), whilst attempted sexual offences recorded an increase of (28.4%). The top 5 stations identified as hotspots in rape are Mthatha (number 2 National), Lusikisiki (number 11 National), Ngqeleni (16 National), Idutywa and Mbizana.
There is a decrease of 5.1% in murder cases in the province. Only two districts have shown an increase in this category of crime which are Nelson Mandela Bay District (17.8) and Joe Gqabi District (26.2%). The top 5 stations identified as hotspots in murder cases are also featuring in
the national list of problematic stations: Mthatha (number 9 National), Kwazakhele (10 National), Kwanobuhle (16 National), Motherwell (20 National) and New Brighton (29 National).
A full report on the First Quarter Crime Statistics for the Eastern Cape is available on the SAPS website (www.saps.gov.za/services/crimestats.php)
For the same period, the police recovery plan yielded positive results after a succession of planned operations (stop and searches, roadblocks and vehicle check points) totalling 65 250 were conducted in the eight districts of the province. Police confiscated 348 firearms among those were 22 rifles such as AK 47’s. At least 13 explosives were also seized. Over 46 720 liquor outlets were visited of which 105 were closed down for various contraventions of the Eastern Cape Liquor Act or for contravening municipal by-laws. Over 198 000 litres of liquor were confiscated. A total of 15 167 suspects were nabbed for various crimes during the same reporting period.
Lt Gen Mene continued by adding that, ‘While we acknowledge that there are still unacceptably high levels of crime, we as the SAPS in the Province are pushing back on crime, especially murders, sexual offences, robbery aggravated, property related crime and sexual offences crimes which are starting to show some decreases (Operation Shanela and Operation Sikhona). Operation Shanela is the aggressive policing approach which was launched nationally on 8th May 2023. Our Province, launched Operation Shanela on 25 August 2023 in Gqeberha. The effectiveness of the high density operations are proving to show decline in our crime figures’, concluded Lt Gen Mene.
The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Hon Nqatha during his address added that, ‘I have noted with concern the increase in contact crimes. A total of 15 752 contact crimes were reported during the 1st quarter of the 2022/2023 cycle in comparison to the 15 927 reported contact crimes during the 1st quarter of 2023/2024. However, we welcome the 2.6 percent decrease in rape during this quarter. I also wish to express my deepest and sincere gratitude to police for apprehending the criminals accused of committing serious crimes including mass killings and shootings in the province. While we acknowledge that more work must be done to reduce our stubborn crimes, we also congratulate the SAPS for reducing crime in our Province.’
Content retrieved from: https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=48315.
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