Gauteng: Alarm sounded over crime spike reflected in latest stats

The DA has sounded the alarm over the spike in crime which was reflected in the third quarter statistics for the 2020/2021 financial year in the province.

“According to the crime statistics (released last month), there has been an overwhelming increase in various crimes across the province compared to the previous financial year,” said the political party’s community safety spokesperson in Gauteng Michael Shackleton.

Police Minister Bheki Cele released the latest crime statistics for the period October to December 2020, during a media briefing on 19 February.

“Cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies have increased by 106,7 per cent – from 15 cases in the 2019/2020 financial year, to 31 cases in the 2020/2021 financial year,” Shackleton said.

Cele highlighted that the police’s response to CIT robberies had to change as the plan they currently had in place was “clearly not working”.

A total of 26 more robberies on cash vans were recorded nationally during the period of reporting.

“If we are to win against these thugs, SAPS must go back to the drawing board and work with speed,” Cele said.

Shackleton also noted that sexual offences detected as a result of police action had increased by 40,5 per cent, from 220 cases in the previous financial year, to 309 cases in the 2020/2021 financial year.

Cele, meanwhile, said there was an overall 5 per cent increase in the number of sexual offences recorded as a result of police action nationally in the period of reporting.

On truck hijackings, Shackleton said incidents had increased by 31,8 per cent, from 173 cases during the 2019/2020 financial year, to 228 cases in the 2020/2021 financial year.

“Contact sexual offences have also seen a rise of 23,3 per cent from 73 cases in the 2019/2020 financial year, to 90 cases in the 2020/2021 financial year.

“Furthermore, there has been an increase in the following crimes in Gauteng: murder has risen by 7,5 per cent with sexual offences increasing by 6 per cent and attempted murder by 3,8 per cent while assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm increased by 4,4 per cent,” Shackleton said.

On the crime category, Cele said the top four causative factors for the deaths nationally were arguments, robberies at a household and businesses, mob justice incidents and gang-related killings.

“A total of 2 481 people were murdered in public places like on the street, open field, parking area and abandoned buildings,” he said, adding that 1 643 murders occurred at the home of either the victim or perpetrator.

Shackleton, meanwhile, said the increase in the number of sexual offences which were recorded was “shocking” – sexual assault has increased by 9,6 per cent, attempted sexual offences by 7,2 per cent while rape has increased by 4,6 per cent.

In his statistics presentation, Cele said 12 218 people were raped during the period of reporting – an increase of 181 cases.

Shackleton said the overall picture painted by the statistics was “worrying” as it indicated the province lacked adequate policing “putting the lives of residents at serious risk”.

Cele’s remarks that the national statistics did not paint a good picture, concurred with Shackleton’s statement.

“The national crime statistics from October to December 2020, do not paint a good picture and hence forces us as the SAPS to dig deep and put the shoulder to the wheel,” Cele said.