Local police stations are among the top 30 ranked in different crime categories in the newly released crime statistics of South Africa.
Gen Bheki Cele, the Minister of Police, recently released the fourth-quarter crime statistics of the 2022-’23 fiscal year.
These crimes were detected by police during the first three months of the year, he explained.
In terms contact-related crimes in Paarl East ranked 11th nationally out of the 30 stations. It also stood in 11th place when it came to malicious damage to property. In the drug-related crime category Paarl East ranked 27.
Paarl Police Station took 26th place in the property-related crime category as well as shoplifting. In the theft-from-a-motor-vehicle category Paarl ranked 13. The same station also ranked 16th in the theft-not-mentioned-elsewhere category. In the burglary at non-residential premises category Paarl ranked in 18th place and Wellington 20th.
Cele further mentioned in his announcement that child murders had decreased by 19,9% over this period. There was, however, a 21,5% increase recorded in attempted murder among women.
“This means there were 1 485 attempted murders of women in South Africa in the first three months of this year,” he said.
“In all, 969 women were killed in the same period and more than 15 000 women were assaulted, and the police are also investigating assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) cases.
“Murder increased countrywide, by 3,4% between January and March 2023. This is the lowest single-digit decrease recorded, compared to the previous three quarters.”
Although a decrease these are not just figures but human lives that should be protected at all costs. This is why these figures prompt the police to double-up policing efforts to decrease contact crimes.
In all, 6 289 people were killed with either a firearm, knife, sharp and blunt instruments, stone and even bare hands between January and March this year. Most of the killings took place in the KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng provinces, with arguments, vigilantism and robberies topping the list of motives for murder.”
Cele concluded by calling on government and the entire society to join forces and support the police in the fight against crime.
