Quarterly crime statistics show LEAP partnership continues to push down violent crime

The 2nd Quarter crime statistics for 2022/23 were released earlier today. The numbers show that the solid crime-fighting partnership the Western Cape Government has formed with the City of Cape Town through the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) continues to make positive strides and make a difference in the lives of our residents.

There were consistent decreases year-on-year in murder statistics in the following areas where LEAP officers are stationed. Murder has decreased in the following areas in the second quarter of 2022 when compared with statistics from the same period last year:

• Mfuleni (-32.3%)
• Kraaifontein (-15.6%)
• Gugulethu (-16.2%)
• Khayelitsha (-9.4%)
• Harare (-3.6%)
• Delft (0%)

There has also been a decline in contact crime in Gugulethu, Delft, Harare and Khayelitsha.

The concerning exceptions are Nyanga and Phillipi East, which are unfortunately in the top 30 police stations in the country with the highest murder rates.

Sadly, murders nationally also continue to increase. Murders in the Western Cape increased by 3.9% for the quarter compared with last year which is a concern. Encouragingly though the Western Cape has performed better than the country as a whole, where murder increased by 13.6% and for most of the other provinces which increased (except for the Free State where murder decreased).

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said, “I am deeply concerned that murders in Nyanga and Phillipi East did not continue their downward trend. But at the same time, I am encouraged by the downward trend in the other hotspot areas, once again proving our deployment of LEAP members to murder hotspots in Cape Town continues to bear fruit. Much more still needs to be done, though.

By constantly improving our targeted and holistic approach to combatting crime we can further reduce murders and other violent offences. I have asked Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Reagan Allen to interrogate the data and meet with the relevant stakeholders in Nyanga to understand what are the factors that have played a role in the change in the statistics for that area. It is through closely assessing the information and deploying appropriate resources that we are able to make a change on the ground.”

The Premier added, “We will analyse the numbers, apply our data-led and evidence-based approach as outlined in the Western Cape Safety Plan, to see what more we need to do with our partner the City of Cape Town, as well as the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other law enforcement agencies, to keep pushing down murders and making our communities safer and more prosperous. By using data and evidence we need to look at where we can further improve our policing strategy.”

Minister Allen emphasised, “These figures show why additional boots on the ground are needed. The presence of LEAP officers is undoubtedly making a significant difference. For this financial year, we’ve availed R400 million to ensure our LEAP members are visible and active in areas where the murder rate is highest.

We remain steadfast in our effort to reduce murders, while also combatting crime in general. He added, “LEAP is showing what can be achieved if deployments are strategic and based on evidence and data. If the South African Police Service (SAPS) is under the management of a capable government, such as ours, we can ensure that the deployment of officers also occur in this manner.

I will be engaging our departmental and City of Cape Town officials, along with other role players  such as the SAPS management, so that a better understanding can be obtained as to why there are increases in murders in Nyanga and Philippi East. While no area in the Western Cape is the “murder capital” of the country, the increases in these two areas are alarming. It’s vital that we achieve an immediate turnaround in these numbers.

Source: Government of South Africa