Alarm sounded over crime spike reflected in latest stats
These various crime statistics are worrying.
The DA has sounded the alarm over the spike in crime which was reflected in the third quarter statistics for the 2020/2021 financial year in the province.
“According to the crime statistics (released last month), there has been an overwhelming increase in various crimes across the province compared to the previous financial year,” said the political party’s community safety spokesperson in Gauteng Michael Shackleton.
Police Minister Bheki Cele released the latest crime statistics for the period October to December 2020, during a media briefing on 19 February.
“Cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies have increased by 106,7% – from 15 cases in the 2019/2020 financial year, to 31 cases in the 2020/2021 financial year,” Shackleton said.
Closer to home, in Pretoria, two incidents were recorded – one in Wonderboompoort and the other in Mamelodi East.
Cele highlighted that the police’s response to CIT robberies had to change as the plan they currently had in place was “clearly not working”.
A total of 26 more robberies on cash vans were recorded nationally during the period of reporting.
“If we are to win against these thugs, SAPS must go back to the drawing board and work with speed,” Cele said.
Shackleton also noted that sexual offences detected as a result of police action had increased by 40,5%, from 220 cases in the previous financial year, to 309 cases in the 2020/2021 financial year.
Only one such incident was recorded at the Pretoria North police station.
Cele, meanwhile, said there was an overall 5% increase recorded in the number of sexual offences recorded as a result of police action nationally in the period of reporting.
On truck hijackings, Shackleton said incidents had increased by 31,8%, from 173 cases during the 2019/2020 financial year, to 228 cases in the 2020/2021 financial year.
Multiple incidents were recorded at the various police stations throughout Pretoria – six incidents were recorded in Akasia, five in Bronkhorstspruit; four in Olievenhoutbosch and three in Hammanskraal while one less incident was recorded at Lyttelton compared to the 2019/2020 financial year.
“Contact sexual offences have also seen a rise of 23,3% from 73 cases in the 2019/2020 financial year, to 90 cases in the 2020/2021 financial year.
“Furthermore, there has been an increase in the following crimes in Gauteng: murder has risen by 7,5% with sexual offences increasing by 6% and attempted murder by 3,8% while assault with intention to inflict grievous bodily harm increased by 4,4%,” Shackleton said.
Locally, a total of 12 more murder cases were recorded at the Atteridgeville police station compared to the same reporting period in the 2019/2020 financial year.
On the crime category, Cele said the top four causative factors for the deaths nationally were arguments, robberies at a household and businesses, mob justice incidents and gang-related killings.
“A total of 2 481 people were murdered in public places like on the street, open field, parking area and abandoned buildings,” he said, adding that 1 643 murders occurred at the home of either the victim or perpetrator.
Shackleton, meanwhile, said the increase in the number of sexual offences which were recorded was “shocking” – sexual assault has increased by 9,6%, attempted sexual offences by 7,2% while rape has increased by 4,6%.
In his statistics presentation, Cele said 12 218 people were raped during the period of reporting – an increase of 181 cases.
Shackleton said the overall picture painted by the statistics was “worrying” as it indicated the province lacked adequate policing “putting the lives of residents at serious risk”.
Cele’s remarks that the national statistics did not paint a good picture, concurred with Shackleton’s statement.
“The national crime statistics from October to December 2020, do not paint a good picture and hence forces us as the SAPS to dig deep and put the shoulder to the wheel,” Cele said.
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