The President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, was mentioned during the release of the fourth quarter crime statistics in Mpumalanga today.

The MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Jackie Macie, asked the media to tell Trump that there was only one attack on a resident staying on a farm (farm attack) in Mpumalanga province since January.

Macie’s sentiments were based on reports that Trump was informed that farm attacks were skyrocketing in South Africa. This being one of the reasons the USA cut funding to South Africa and giving a certain group of people refugee status in America to escape these alleged attacks.

Macie was addressing the media during the release of the province’s crime statistics of the fourth quarter (January to March) of the 2024/25 financial year.

The statistics revealed a general crime decline of 10% across the province under the leadership of the acting Mpumalanga police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi announced that sexual offences increased from 899 to 1 027 cases compared with the same period last year, a 14.2% increase. “We have a very serious problem in the category of sexual offences. We need to do something about this situation. We need to engage men, non-governmental organisations, political organisations and others. We need to change our approach,” he said.

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Mkhwanazi said the breakdown of sexual offences saw an increase in rape cases from 752 between January and March last year to 837 during the same period this year, which indicates an 11.3% increase. Sexual assault increased from 98 to 123 cases (25.5% higher), while attempted sexual assault remained the same at 45 cases.

The six police stations that registered the highest number of sexual offences cases are Masoyi, Calcutta, KaBokweni, Acornhoek, Vosman and eMbalenhle.

Murder has declined by 26.1% with 274 cases last year and went down to 97, while attempted murder also showed a 28.1% decrease from 282 cases to 110.

Robbery with aggravating circumstances cases have gone down from 2 146 to 1 805. Burglary at residential premises is down 16.4%, from 2 809 cases last year to 2 348 this year.

Theft of vehicles and motorcycles went down from 84 to 77, while theft out of cars also went down from 307 to 281, indicating an 8.5% decrease.

Except for the sexual offences which went up, nearly all the other crimes have declined in Mpumalanga.