Crime on the rise in the Moot
The number assaulted at the Hercules precinct the past year rose by 49 compared to the previous year.
The 2015/2016 crime statistics released in Parliament last Friday painted a bleak picture for Moot residents, with more people being assaulted with the intent of inflicting grievous harm.
The number of assaults in the Hercules precinct rose by 28,9% – 221 cases were reported in 2015/2016 compared to 172 in 2014/2015.
In Eersterust, 98 cases of assault were reported between April 2015 and March 2016 compared to 91 cases reported in 2014/2015 – an increase of 7,7%.
In Villieria, 19 cases of assault were reported in 2015/2016, compared to 24 in 2015/2016, and 19 cases were reported in Wonderboom in 2015/2016 compared to 23 the previous year.
According to statistics, Hercules is the precinct most affected by crime in the Moot with 3 856 crimes reported in the past year.
Both Villieria and Hercules have seen a marked increase in murder. Murders in Hercules have risen from five to 11 – an increase of 120%.
Villieria has seen a 100% increase in murders committed, with four murders committed in the past year compared to two in 2014/2015.
The number of attempted burglaries with aggravating circumstances have also increased in Villieria. The number of cases reported increased by 7,2% – 179 in 2015/2016 to 167 the previous year.
Wonderboompoort however, saw a decrease in attempted burglaries – 60 in 2015/2016 compared to 81 in 2014/2015.
Cases of attempted murder in Wonderboompoort spiked by 150% – 10 cases were reported in 2015/2016 compared to four in 2014/2015.
In Eersterust, attempted murder also increased from seven last year to 16 this year.
Cases involving sexual offences in Eersterust saw a decrease of -44% – from 18 in 2014/2015 to 10 in 2015/2016.
Wonderboompoort however, saw a 30,8% spike in sexual offences – from 13 to 17.
Burglaries in the Moot have been rife this past year with 1 600 reported crimes.
Dr Johan Burger, senior researcher at the institute of security studies, said a collapse in the intelligence division of the police was to blame for the hike in crime.
“It has to do with the increased activities of organised criminal groups in Gauteng. Add this to the weakness in the intelligence division, together with bad leadership from the police.”
The SA Police Union (Sapu) urged the police intelligence division to get involved in the fight against crime.
Recent data by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) showed when it came to societal safety and security, South Africa was the 15th worst country in the world and the 8th most violent with a murder rate of 31 per 100 000 people.
The SAPS urged Pretoria residents assist them in the fight against fraud, corruption, unethical behaviour or any other suspicious activities by phoning the duty general on 082 313 8299 or the duty brigadier on 082 334 4354 to help bring down these crime numbers.
Also read:
House robberies in SA on the rise
Police urge Daspoort community to help fight crime
Pretoria West violent crime rising
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