KwaDukuza Saps precinct ‘capital of housebreaking’, reveals police crime stats

National crime stats for April to June 2021 saw KwaDukuza come out with the highest number of reported cases of robberies at residential premises in the country, with 70 cases, an increase of 38 cases over last year for the same period.

The station also appeared in the top 30 stations for cases of murder, attempted murder, assault with grievous bodily harm, robbery at non-residential premises and burglary at residential premises.

A police source told the North Coast Courier that the most problematic areas were Ntshawini, Thembeni and Lot 14.

“Most of the time, criminals target those households where they have a tuck shop selling something like cigarettes or airtime. Recently a foreign national was shot and injured in Thembeni. He runs a tuckshop but they did not rob him there, they went to his house to rob him,” he said.

People who keep large sums of the money in their homes are particular targets.

Aresh Singh of Crime Stop Ukukusiza in KwaDukuza said Saps’ lack of manpower and vehicles needed to be addressed.

“This is poor planning on the part of Saps. Our population and residential areas are increasing and Saps should be growing as well to service these increases. The sales of drugs and the whoonga addicts in our town (KwaDukuza) has increased the petty crime and housebreakings,” said Singh.

He also stressed that unlicensed shebeens were contributing to the problem as major hotspots for crime.

Another local police station that features is Tongaat, listed in the top 30 with 25 cases of attempted murder, an increase of 17 from last year.

The station also recorded 11 cases of sexual offences, detected as a result of police action.