Police ministry records increase in crime during lockdown level 4

The easing of the lockdown has seen an increase in crime levels compared to lockdown level 5, according to police minister Bheki Cele.

Cele gave an update on police ministry security interventions during Covid-19 lockdown.

He said towards the end of April on lockdown level 5, there were 107 000 cases opened with 118 000 people charged for contravention of lockdown regulations.

Cele said in just over a month, this number doubled to 230 000 for contraventions.

Cele said the increase of the cases were recorded in the provinces that had the highest virus cases, namely Gauteng, Eastern Cape and the Western Cape.

Cele said among those charged were people who contravened the liquor and tobacco ban.

“Criminals are opportunistic and organised crime syndicates have taken advantage of the ban of alcohol and cigarettes and expanded their trade into the illegal market of illicit and counterfeit alcohol and cigarettes.”

Cele said there was an increase in smuggling liquor and tobacco between South Africa’s land borders with Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Cele stressed that the liquor and tobacco ban was recommended by health experts and not “necessarily the police”.

While the serious crimes figures remain low compared to 2019, Cele said there was a slight increase in some crimes under level 4.

He said there was an increase in car hijacking incidents in Gauteng followed by the Western Cape, KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape.

“The reasons behind this have yet to be determined and confirmed by our analysts.

“However, we believe the slight increase is due to the relaxation of the lockdown restrictions which has seen the increased movement of people and traffic on the road, as more companies have gone back to business.”

From 27 March to 19 May 2020 compared to the same period last year police ministry recorded the following:

• Murder dropped from 2 970 to 1 072
• Rape dropped from 5 350 to 919
• Attempted murder fell from 2 571 to 1 132
• Assault GBH decreased from 22 144 to 4 348
• Robbery with aggravating circumstances from 14 822 to 5 397
• Carjacking from 2 641 to 773
• Robbery at non-residential premises from 2 987 to 1 189
• Robbery at residential premises dropped from 3 021 to 1 539

Cele said although the media and social development centres reported a surge in gender-based violence cases, many of these cases were not reported to the police.

He said encouraged victims to report such cases.

“There is a sharp decrease from 21 033 in 2019, to 6 651 cases of domestic violence during the lockdown, a 68.4% drop. The numbers are in reference to reported cases.”

Cele said 611 police officers tested positive for the Covid-19 and six have died.

He said although there were a number of stations closing due to confirmed cases, the department was working hard ensuring it does not affect service delivery.

With the firearm amnesty period about to expire at the end of this month, Cele said the ministry has written to parliament to request an extension after noticing the sharp decline in voluntary handovers during lockdown.

Cele appealed to the public to continue to comply with lockdown regulations.

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