The latest crime stats from April 2015 to March 2016 indicate that Amanzimtoti is heading in the right direction with a decline in murder, burglary, robbery, vehicle theft and ordinary theft, however there have been slight increases in attempted murder and carjacking.
There is also an increase in drug related offences that could be attributed to more cases being reported in line with crime prevention initiatives piloted by Toti SAPS.
Perhaps of most concern is the staggering increase in the number of sexual offences.
These are the crime figures in direct comparison to the period from April 2014 to March 2015:
In contact crimes, which are crimes against the person, murder is down 16,7% from 30 cases to 25, sexual offences up 318,2% from 11 to 46, attempted murder is up 11,1% from 18 to 20, assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm is up 20,6% from 68 to 82, common assault is up 31,6% from 95 to 125, common robbery is up 8,3% from 48 to 52, and robbery with aggravating circumstances is down 5,6% from 179 to 169.
In contact-related crimes, arson is down 83,3% from 6 to 1, and malicious damage to property is up 16% from 125 to 145.
In property-related crimes, burglary at non-residential premises is up 19,1% from 68 to 81, burglary at residential premises is down 9,2% from 633 to 575, theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle is down 22,9% from 275 to 212, theft out of or from motor vehicle is up 17,8% from 264 to 311, and stock theft is down 75% from 16 to 4.
In other serious crimes, all theft not mentioned elsewhere is down 14,7% from 531 to 453, commercial crime is down 95,9% from 196 to 8, and shoplifting is down 23,5% from 429 to 328.
In crime detected as a result of police action, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition is up 166,7% from 6 to 16, drug-related crime is up 20,1% from 224 to 269, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is up 14,7% from 143 to 164, and sexual offences as result of police action is up 700% from 1 to 8.
In sub-categories of aggravated robbery, carjacking is up 12,1% from 33 to 37, truck hijacking remains the same with one incident, robbery at residential premises is down 37,2% from 43 to 27, and robbery at non-residential premises is up 23,1% from 13 to 16.
Community Policing Forum deputy chairman, Maestro Mncibi believes various initiatives contributed to crime reduction in the area.
“These included community participation programmes such as the #Crimemustfall campaign, well-targeted programmes by the CPF and their sub committees, finding the balance between repression and prevention, treating violence as a public health concern, localised programmes like neighbourhood watches and street committees, and avoiding repressive policies and looking at structures that work together with police and other law enforcement.
Law enforcement agencies cannot work in silos to combact crime but it needs the community to partake in such activities and programes to ensure that we work collectively as social intervention is critical,” said Mncibi.
“During discussion with the station commander Colonel Nkabinde, he made it clear the results were not exclusively as a result of measures implemented by Toti SAPS, but rather praised the collective efforts extended by all law enforcement agencies that operate within the station’s catchment area,” said ward 97 councillor, Andre Beetge.”We extend our gratitude to all the men and women, some in uniform and some ordinary citizens of our community, who constantly extend efforts towards creating a safer environment, thereby making our town the place of choice to live, work and play. We salute you,” said Cllr Beetge.
“One crime in our country is one too many, however we need to realise that it is a reality and that we need to take the necessary steps in order to prevent this crime from taking place in our area,” said CCPO chairman, George Lithgow.
“We believe we have the best solution available in our country and as a community organisation we are raising the standards daily in order to curtail this crime.
Our success is the community who have taken initiative to join – whether it is a business, a body corporate, pensioner or home owner, you have made things happen in making our area one of the safest in KZN,” said Lithgow.
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