MBOMBELA – Cash-in-transit robberies are violent, organised crimes that have plagued the Lowveld in the last year. Prevalent in a wide area stretching from KaNyamazane to Hazyview, Bushbuckridge and Acornhoek, these robberies have increased by 28, 6 per cent in the last year. It increased with 15,1 per cent nationally.
This was confirmed when police minister Mr Nkosinathi Nhleko presented Parliament with the national crime statistics on Friday. Nhleko’s presentation was followed by the release of crime statistics for each province on the SAPS website. The release it titled “Back to basics towards a safer tomorrow. Crime Situation in South Africa.”
According to the release, Mpumalanga is one of only two provinces that experienced an increase in crime during the last year. A four per cent increase in criminal activity was recorded in the province and a 4,3 per cent increase in Limpopo. North West’s crime figures remained stable while the rest of the country’s provinces saw a decrease. Nationally, a decrease of 3,2 per cent was recorded.
A 25,2 per cent increase in truck hijackings in the province was also noted and car hijackings increased with 23,6 per cent. Non-residential robberies increased by 14,3 per cent. The illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, a crime often committed along with crimes like poaching, murder and robbery, has decreased by 8,5 per cent.
Non-residential burglaries increased with 8,5 per cent and 6,6 per cent more instances of stock theft were reported. Robbery with aggravating circumstances escalated with six per cent. Murder escalated with 3.4 per cent and attempted murder with 13,4 per cent. Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm was reported 5,4 per cent more.
Incidents of common assault increased by 1,9 and arson by 1,7 per cent. Less than a percentage’s increase was observed regarding incidents of malicious injury to property.
Incidents of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol had increased by 22 per cent. Bank robberies decreased by 20 per cent. Nationally, a drop of 64 per cent was noted.
Also read: SAPS crime statistics 2015
Also read: SAPS crime statistics 2014
Drug related crimes in the province increased by 11,1 per cent. Thefts out of of motor vehicles occurred 7,8 per cent less that in the previous year. A 6,4 per cent drop in cases of common robbery was also noted. Sexual offences decreased by 4,1 per cent.
Incidents of common robbery decreased by 6,4 per cent and thefts of motor vehicles and motorcycles by 3,5 per cent.
According to the SAPS’ statistics, 2,8 per cent fewer incidents of shoplifting were reported and incidents of arson decreased with 1,7 per cent.
Nhleko said that the success of crime prevention in South Africa is partially dependent on community policing structures being in place and functioning properly.
In this regard, the provincial capital is doing well. Newly appointed station commander, Brig Gerrie Agenbag, recently said that Mbombela serves as an example of how well a community policing forum (CPF) system can work. He explained that the essence of these structures revolved around each area in the city having a sub forum, which has a chairman. A number of sub forums forms a sector and a number of sectors, in turn, form a CPF.
Agenbag said residents must get involved in their areas’ crime-prevention structures. “We have a community that is very involved in crime prevention and for that, I am grateful,” he said.
In addition to focusing on community policing, Nhleko said that the police would also employ a “Back to Basics” approach. This approach will focus on every member of SAPS doing the basics of policing properly and consistently.
