The Umhlali police station has recorded an alarming 100% increase in murder cases between July and September.
This was revealed in the latest crime statistics released by the South African Police Services.
Twenty-two people were killed in the Umhlali police precinct, up from 11 cases in the same period last year.
Nkobongo and Shayamoya townships are the biggest problem areas relating to murder, robbery and house break-ins.
Drug abuse, gang fights and illegal taverns that operate at irregular hours are cited as the main causes of the crime spike, admitted councillors Ali Ngidi, Collen Mdletshe and Doeshiee Govender.
Ngidi said he was aware of at least 6 people killed in Nkobongo since June, but said these were only the people he personally knew.
He believed there were many more.
Mdletshe said in Shayamoya the situation was out of control and had been increasingly so since the beginning of the Covid lockdown last March.
“Since then, at least 60 people have been killed in our township.
“Since June I know of at least 5 killings and a large number of people robbed and stabbed on the streets. There are likely more murder cases I am unaware of because families bury victims in rural areas,” said Mdletshe.
He said it was of great concern that many perpetrators are boys as young as 16.
“Some of them are still in high school and they have already committed serious crimes. My information is that ring leaders recruit these boys and make them join gangs. It is a serious issue that needs to be addressed urgently,” said Mdletshe.
The three councillors said they were preparing to form a cluster anti-crime forum to deal with crime in the townships.
“We also plan to hold community meetings to formulate strategies to deal with these criminals, because this has to be stopped,” said Ngidi.
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