After the crime statistics for 2013/2014 were released by Police Minister Nkosinathi Nhleko and National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega last Friday, analysts are saying that South Africa is less safe than it was two years ago.
The national figures show that murder and robberies are on the increase but closer to home, a look at the neighbouring police station crime statistics show that murders have decreased but drug-related crimes have increased across the stations reviewed.
Statistics from Estcourt, Mooi River, Ntabamhlophe, Weenen, Winterton and Wembezi were retrieved from https://www.saps.gov.za and indicate the following:
Estcourt – Contact crimes, including murder and attempted murder has decreased. Property-related crimes, which includes burglaries at residential and business properties and stock theft have shown a decrease.
Other significant decreases were noted in theft of motor vehicles and malicious injury to property.
Mooi River – A significant decrease in crimes like theft, theft out of motor vehicles and malicious injury to property was reported. There was a staggering increase in stock theft cases reported, with 138 cases reported in 2013/2014 compared to 65 during the previous year. Drug-related crime more than doubled with 43 cases reported.
Wembezi – The stats show that the number of crimes that were detected as a result of police action had decreased in all areas and other serious crimes like theft, commercial crime and shoplifting rose. The number of sexual assaults, attempted murder and assault cases show a decrease.
Winterton – the highest number of cases of unlawful possession of firearms or ammunition was reported in 2013/2014 since 2004/2005.
24 cases were reported compared to four last year. Assault, robberies at residential premises and sexual assaults all increased. Decreases were noted in the theft, attempted murder and stock theft cases.
Weenen – Here 15 murder cases were reported to police during 2013/2014, this is a sharp rise from six cases in 2012/2013 and three in 2011/2012.
Burglaries, drug-related crimes, unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition and sexual assaults also rose during the past year. The statistics show decreases in crimes like stock theft, commercial crime and culpable homicide.
Ntabamhlophe – All contact crimes except for murders decreased in this police precinct. 12 murders were reported as compared to last year’s five cases. Property-related cases, involving burglaries, also showed decreases.
Drug-related crimes decreased from 57 cases reported last year to just seven recorded this year. An increase in attempted murder, arson, culpable homicide and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition was seen.