Crime stats show grim provincial numbers

Crime statistics released last week look grim with the Western Cape accounting for seven out of the 10 policing precincts with the highest murder rate in the country.

The Nyanga precinct saw a 65% increase, Philippi East 76.5%, and Khayelitsha 44%.

Premier Alan Winde said the newly released crime statistics are a great concern.

The figures are disappointing and are a clear indication that fresh approaches to combating crime will have to be explored and implemented with urgency, he said.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and Stats SA published the latest official crime statistics for the country, covering the final quarter of 2023/24, January to March 2024, and the first quarter of 2024/25, April to June 2024.

The statistics released by SAPS on Friday August 30 revealed that overall, the Western Cape’s murder rate increased by 27.5% in quarter four of 2023/24 and a further 21.2% in quarter one of 2024/25.

Mr Winde said the statistics reflect the reality many residents have to endure daily.

“This is not lost on us. The figures must shock us into decisive action, where collaboration and partnerships, not cheap politicking, guide us in how best to combat crime in all its forms.”

There was also a 2.6% rise in contact crime in the province compared to the previous year and an increase of 0.6% in rape cases but a newly signed policing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will hopefully address and subdue the rampant crime in the province.

The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the Western Cape Government, City of Cape Town and national government in Cape Town on Friday, is set to pave the way for more collaborative policing.

Mr Winde said the Memorandum of Understanding must focus on ensuring that the SAPS in the Western Cape is adequately resourced; that crime intelligence is shared among stakeholders; and that resources are concentrated in areas that require them the most and are allocated and deployed according to a data and evidence-led approach.

“Closer co-operation between the provincial government, the national government, the Western Cape SAPS and municipal law enforcement efforts is imperative.

“The MoU signed between the provincial and national governments, SAPS and the City of Cape Town is a strong example of such co-operation, because crime levels can only be brought down if everyone does their part,” said Mr Winde.

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu agreed that the province's crime statistics are a concern but said the scourge will be addressed by the Memorandum of Understanding.

“The Western Cape recorded the highest increase in murder cases… this is indeed a concern but we are confident that we will overcome it.

“The signed MoU agreement is not only a document, it is an undertaking to commit to an action plan towards establishing a safer province,” said Mr Mchunu.

“We will build a brighter future where every resident in Cape Town and the Western Cape feels safe, protected and indeed feels valued.”

Meanwhile, police precincts in the Southern Mail’s distribution area, including Steenberg, Grassy Park and Muizenberg, noted a decrease in overall crime totals for the first half of this year.

Grassy Park had 3 024 total crimes with a 7% decrease, Steenberg recorded 1 778 total crimes with a 7% decrease and Muizenberg police 1 616 total crimes with a 13% decrease.

The precincts were also highlighted in the top 30 lists for crimes detected as a result of police action, which means crimes that are usually not reported to the police and which is dependent on the deployment of law enforcement personnel and employment of intelligence and includes illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, drug-related crimes, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and sexual offences.

Grassy Park police had a 43.1% increase in crimes detected as a result of police action from 256 cases to 352 cases and Steenberg police with a 4.2% increase from 432 cases to 450 cases

Grassy Park police’s drug-related crime also increased by 41.3% from 225 to 318.