Two Central police stations appear on several top 30 serious crime stats
Although there was slight decrease in recorded crimes from the stations, the CBD is still not out of the woods of crime just yet.
Two Pretoria Central police stations were among the top 30 stations in the country when it came to reported serious crimes.
These crimes include arson, murder, rape, robbery and burglary.
According to the crime stats released by police minister Bheki Cele last Friday, Pretoria Central Police station came in eighth on the top 30 stations in 2019/2020 for reported serious crimes
This even though there was a decrease from 8 941 cases to 7 866 in 2019/2020.
Meanwhile, Sunnyside police station took the 17th spot having recorded 7 044 cases from 7 833 the previous year.
Gauteng recorded an overall of 463 509 serious crimes which was a decrease from the 474 005 recorded in 2018/2019.
Sunnyside police station also featured on the country’s top 30 stations with common assault cases.
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The station came 28th with 727 cases reported in the year 2019/2020, an increase of 5.8% from 687 from the previous financial year.
Pretoria Central was also under the top 30 stations in the country with the highest common robbery reported cases taking the number four spot, with 818 cases a decrease of 11.2% from the previous year.
On robbery of cash in transit, Pretoria Central came fourth.
Cele said he was concerned over the province as it was among the dominating provinces in the top 30 stations, particularly in murder and rape.
“However, I am pleased with a decrease in overall crime stats.
“Fellow South Africans the crime statistics for 2019/2020 reflects the slowing down of the increase in violent crimes. Indeed we are not where we want to be, however, we are pleased with the improvements in most stubborn crime categories.”
This week the DA raised concerns over the competency of the police following the release of the crime statistics which saw Gauteng being the second-highest province with reported murders in the country.
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According to the SAPS crime statistics, the overall number of murders in the province increased by 1.3% from 4 495 in 2018/2019, to 4 555 in 2019/2020.
DA Gauteng leader John Moodey said the increase in murder cases was worrying and “clearly indicated SAPS was failing in its responsibility to prevent, combat and investigate the crime”.
“The DA believes that it is the responsibility of the SAPS to prevent anything that may threaten the safety or security of any community and to ensure criminals are brought to justice,” he said.
“We will hold both the Gauteng MEC for community safety Faith Mazibuko and Gauteng SAPS provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela to account to ensure that police do their duty of preventing and combating crime in this province.”
The statistics also saw Gauteng taking the number one spot in the country for causes of murder prompted by arguments/misunderstanding (not related to domestic) standing at 1 099.
There were 353 robbery cases (house/business/street), 105 taxi-related murders, 19 rape-related murders, 61 illicit mining cases, bullying at school four, and about six public/service delivery protest cases.
“This clearly indicates that the safety of our residents is under threat and that the law enforcement agencies are not doing enough to ensure residents’ safety.”
*This article has been amended
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