Murder and bank robberies rising in Gauteng

The rate of murder, attempted murder and robbery have increased in Gauteng the past year, Police Minister Nathi Nhleko said at the announcement of the annual crime statistics on Friday.

Bank robberies were up by 200%, with Gauteng contributing largely to the increase.

“There are still high levels of violence and aggression in our society. We need to mediate this culture of violence,” he said at the police academy in Pretoria West.

The murder rate went up in all provinces by 5% this past year, while Gauteng a recorded increase of 11.2%. A total of 17 068 people were murdered in the country last year.

Nhleko said the last five years showed a persisting problem of contact crimes and social unrest, however, sexual offences, stock theft and commercial crimes have decreased.

National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega said the portion of rapes had dropped 7.3% while sexual assault cases were down by 9.9% in the province.

“Police are doing well in fighting sexual assault cases and we will continue to fight this crime. We encourage more reporting of such cases,” said the commissioner.

Common assault was reported to be down by 0.8 %.

Phiyega said overall crime in the country continued to be abating because only six of the 17 priority crimes had escalated. Society could and should play a pivotal role in the fight against crime, she said.

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