DA raises alarm as Gauteng shows second-highest murder rate in SA

According to the SAPS crime stats, the overall number of murders in Gauteng increased by 1,3% from 4 495 in 2018/2019, to 4 555 in 2019/2020.

KZN was South Africa’s “murder capital” in the review period, with 4 859 murders.

DA Gauteng leader John Moodey said the increase in murder cases was worrying and “clearly indicated SAPS was failing in its responsibility to prevent, combat and investigate the crime”.

“The DA believes that it is the responsibility of the SAPS to prevent anything that may threaten the safety or security of any community and to ensure criminals are brought to justice,” he said.

“We will hold both the Gauteng MEC for community safety Faith Mazibuko and Gauteng SAPS provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela to account to ensure that police do their duty of preventing and combating crime in this province.”

The statistics also saw Gauteng taking the number one spot in the country for causes of murder prompted by arguments/misunderstanding (not related to domestic) standing at 1 099.

There were 353 robbery cases (house/business/street), 105 taxi-related murders, 19 rape-related murders, 61 illicit mining cases, bullying at school four, and about six public/service deliver protest cases.

“This clearly indicates that the safety of our residents is under threat and that the law enforcement agencies are not doing enough to ensure residents’ safety.”

Meanwhile, Gauteng was third in multiple murders in the past three years, accounting for 260 victims, including the nine illegal mining victims who were killed in Roodepoort, in the worst number of multiple killings in the province.

“For far too long the DA has been calling on both the SAPS and the department of community safety to stop illegal mining in our province yet there is nothing that has been done. There is no police visibility in those areas where illegal mining activities are taking place.”

Police minister Bheki Cele said he was concerned over the province as it was among the dominating provinces in the top 30 stations, particularly in murder and rape.

Cele, however, said he was pleased with a decrease in overall crime stats..

“Fellow South Africans the crime statistics for 2019/2020 reflects the slowing down of the increase in violent crimes. Indeed we are not where we want to be, however we are pleased with the improvements in most stubborn crime categories.”