KAROO NEWS - The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Xolile Nqatha, recently released the official Eastern Cape crime statistics for the fourth quarter of the previous financial year - 2022/2023.
He reported on police performance in terms of addressing various categories of crime in the Eastern Cape.
The SAPS conducted six major operations – Vhuthu Hawe, Operation Sikhona, Bilateral/Trilateral Cross Border, High Density, Provincial Interventions and Majola Intervention.
According to Lt Gen Nomthetheleli Mene, Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, all these operations had several good successes and some are continuing to break the spine of crime syndicates and operatives.
“In as much as some of the crimes may seem to be puncturing our hopes in terms of reflections in figures, the reality on the ground, is that our detectives and intelligence have turned a new page,” said Mene.
There has been a general decrease in various categories of sexual offenses, with a notable 19,9% decline in sexual assault cases and a 12,7% decline in rape cases. However, in this regard, there is a concern in the OR Tambo District, where Lusikisiki appears at number three and Mthatha at number five in the national list of top 30 police stations. These two stations are occupying the top two positions in the provincial list. Police have also recovered a significant number of firearms in various districts of the Eastern Cape - 403 firearms, including six automatic rifles with an assortment of ammunition, were confiscated resulting in a positive increase of 57,7% in the confiscation of illegal firearms. In addition, there has been a positive increase of 5,8% on drug-related crimes. “Police remain concerned about the unrelenting incidents of murder, attempted murder, trio crimes, robbery of cash in transit, and stock theft,” said Mene.
The Qumbu, Mthatha and Bityi Police Stations in the OR Tambo District are leading the national top 30 police stations in stock theft cases, and the New Brighton, Bethelsdorp and Kwazakhele Police Stations in the Nelson Mandela District is leading the provincial list of top 30 stations with the highest rate of murder cases. In the murder category, seven police stations from the Eastern Cape are appearing in the list of the top 30 police stations. Mene also said there is a need for police and pertinent stakeholders to redouble their efforts and intensify on programmes that will see them winning the fight against family feuds and hit murders which are motivated by the desire to benefit from insurance companies. This should serve as some reassurance for Graaff-Reinet residents considering the uncertainties surrounding the nature and extent of the pending local insurance murder case. In conclusion, Mene stated that police performance results are positive as a total of 18 840 suspects were arrested for various crimes. This means that, on average, more than 6 000 people were arrested per month. “Police are unperturbed in their efforts to fight crime in general,” he said.
Xolile Nqatha stated that research revealed a significant decrease in crime in areas where there is an existence of Community Policing Forums and for this reason, the Department of Community Safety will continue to establish more of these Forums.
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