According to police spokesperson W/O Imtiaz Yakub Rasool, in the recent months there has been an alarming spike in the number of reported cases of assault and burglary.
“Despite Duduza SAPS’s efforts to curb these crimes, it is evident that we are not succeeding, as we cannot be everywhere all the time,” he says.
“Assaults are usually domestic-related, as the attacker and the victim have a relationship and, in the majority of cases are on their way to or from taverns and are intoxicated due to the use of liquor.
“In the instances where such a domestic relationship is not existent, the attacker is generally someone known to the victim and the reason for the assault is petty and can be solved through other, non-violent means.”
He adds that, in these cases, they have also noticed alcohol consumption present in the perpetrator and victim.
According to Rasool, burglaries are occurring randomly in the Duduza area and, in recent times, the police have also noticed that perpetrators are so bold as to break into houses while the residents are at home and in bed.
“This boldness indicates that the perpetrator may go to extreme lengths to fulfil his desire to acquire the property he seeks, hence we urge the community not to confront intruders, but to rather call the police for assistance,” he says.
“We can, however, say that thus far we have been lucky in that no one was attacked during the burglaries.
“Property targeted generally includes electrical kitchen appliances, home entertainment systems, television sets, cellular communication devices, laptops, computers and other small items that are of value and easy to carry.”
Rasool adds that they urge the community to take the necessary precautions to ensure their safety and the safety of those around them.
The police also urge the community not to take the law into their own hands, as this will definitely result in charges being laid against them for breaking the law.
“Help us to fight crime by being our eyes and ears and remember, we are here to protect and serve. To succeed, we need your assistance, as we cannot be everywhere all the time,” Rasool says.
