Following the recent release of the National Crime Statistics for the second quarter of 2021 /2022 financial year by the Minister of Police, General Bheki Cele (MP), Provinces have to follow suit and release their respective crime statistics for the same quarter.
The provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe had on Tuesday 14 December 2021 presented the provincial crime statistics for the said quarter to the Executive Authority and the Limpopo citizens.
Starting with the presentation, the Provincial Commissioner indicated that the recent statistics enumerates cases reported to the Police across the Province during the second quarter of the 2021/2022 financial year, against cases recorded in the same period the previous financial year which ended on 31st March 2021.
The statistics will cover the period, 1 July to 30 September 2021 in comparison to records of 1 July to 30 September 2020 and will cover 17 community reported serious crimes which included contact and trio crimes, robberies of cash-in-transit, kidnapping, property-related crimes and stock theft.
“I would like to indicate that the number of murder cases have increased by 23,1% in the period of reporting as compared to the same period the previous year. We recorded 43 more cases as compared to the same period last year, which brings the number of murder cases to a total of 229 in the last quarter.
Arguments, misunderstanding and provocations remain the highest contributor to murder incidents, with 81 cases connected to these behaviors.
Moreover, we have recorded about 36 mob justice related cases which contributed considerably to this spike of murder cases. We could have avoided these murders if we all understood the rule of law and that everyone should go through the justice system to prove his innocence or guilt.
Even though the number of murder cases have increased drastically, we have seen a significant decrease in the number of murders in some of the top 30 murder stations such as Seshego, Ritavi, Matlala, Waterval, Bolobedu, Mphephu, Westernburg and Senwabarwana. We are very positive that these decrease will spread to other areas and hopefully yield positive results in the next quarter.
The number of sexual offences has also increased by 7, 5% with 70 more cases reported. Another increase can be seen in a number of rape with an increase of 4.5 percent with 36 cases more. We have taken note of the fact that about 456 cases of the reported rape cases have occurred either at the victim’s residence or at a place that they know and by the person they know. It is therefore very important that we should treat every person as a potential perpetrator of rape and sexual offences, and take extra precautions in our own house and neighbourhoods to avoid becoming victims.
Overall, contact crime has increased by 4, 9% in the last quarter and that is a reason for concern. We have put more resources to places where they are needed the most to ensure increased visibility and crime detection. On the other hand, we welcome the fact that we recorded no farm attacks between July and September 2021.
We also welcome the 18,2% decrease in robberies in residential areas and 1,6% decrease in non-residential robberies although we cannot take full credit of the successes because the community and other stakeholders such as private security companies and community structures have played a significant role in ensuring that crime is prevented in hot spot areas.
We therefore encourage more and more stakeholders including community members to keep on establishing more and more community based structures that will assist in the fight against crime. The more we establish and maintain these structures, we stand a good chance of reducing crimes such as hijacking which have now increased by a staggering 38% which is 44 cases more as compared to the previous year.
Apart from the increase we have noticed in hijacking, we have seen a 1,6% decrease in contact related crimes such as Arson and Malicious damage to property which means that people are able to take decisive decisions and resort to taking amicable solutions than violence.
Kidnapping is a new trend that has hit our shores. We have in recent times recorded kidnapping of children and adults during robberies. As such, we appeal to parents to look after their children at all times and at the same time urge everyone to be vigilant and take extra precautions to ensure that kidnappings don’t happen in our watch.
Provincial Commissioner then handed over to the Acting Provincial Head of Crime Registar Colonel Samson Raphahlelo to make an in depth PowerPoint presentation of the crime statistics.
The other crime categories that indicated an increase are as follows:
• Contact crimes by 4,9 %
• Property related crimes by 1,5%
• Other serious crimes by 3,1%
• Contact related crimes indicated a decrease of 1,6 %
The presentation was held at Polokwane Municipality New Council Chamber and the attendees included the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport and Community Safety in Limpopo, Ms Seono, Chief Director Provincial Secretariat, Ms M.A Nhlane-Mthimkulu, the Acting Chief Director for Transport Regulations, Mr T Matsila, the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Corporate Services Major General Christine Moralakadi, Acting Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for policing Brigadier Dikeledi Mangena, Provincial Heads, Representatives of District Commissioners, senior members, Secretary of POPCRU, Mr Mashao, Provincial Secretary of SAPU Mr Tlou and members from different media houses.
