Joint media release by Premier Winde and MEC Marais: Western Cape Government welcomes 6.9% decrease in murder and 24.5% decrease in attempted murder in the WC.
The Western Cape Government welcomes the release of the quarterly crime statistics for the third quarter of 2021/22 covering the period of October to December, which shows a 6.9% decrease in murder and a 24.5% decrease in attempted murder compared to the previous quarter in the province.
The Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, said: “These statistics demonstrate clearly that our Provincial Safety Plan interventions are making a difference. We have seen decreases in the murder rate at Kraaifontein at 40.5%, Harare at 14.5%, Khayelitsha at 21.1% and Nyanga 24.1%. These account for the most significant decreases in murders among the top 30 murder stations in the country and are also areas in which we have deployed significant LEAP resources as part of our plan to reduce the murder rate by 50% by 2029.”
Premier Winde added: “Since the inception of the plan, 1056 LEAP officers have been deployed to crime hotspots. The working hours of these LEAP members were also extended to a 24-hour shift system which resulted in an increase in deployments over weekends when murders increased according to our data. Furthermore, a Reaction Unit consisting of LEAP members was established to urgently respond to outbreaks of violence when it occurs.”
Decreases in criminal activity in the Western Cape over the past quarter were further recorded for:
• Sexual offences at 10.7%;
• Assault - Gross Bodily Harm at 5.6%;
• Common assault at 1.2%;
• Common robbery at 8.9%; and
• Robbery with aggravating circumstances at 10.9%.
The Acting MEC of Community Safety, Anroux Marais, said: “There are of course areas in which we have seen increases in criminal activity which include attempted sexual offences, bank robbery, malicious damage to property, and commercial crime. These are concerning and my department will play its part to give effect to our Constitutional mandate of oversight, ensuring that we can identify the gaps and address them – making the province safer for all who live in it.”
MEC Marais continued, “As outlined by Premier Winde in his State of the Province Address, we intend to take this oversight role even more seriously - and not just at the national level, but at the local level too. Going forward, the department will significantly expand its monitoring of police stations across the province, with a focus on GBV and domestic violence responses, police conduct, visible policing, and crime investigation efficiency. The Department of Community Safety will also accordingly be renamed the Department of Police Oversight and Community Safety in the Western Cape.”
Premier Winde said, “We want to take our Provincial Safety Plan to the next level, and so I have also announced a new Violence Prevention Unit will be established in the Western Cape’s Department of Health. This unit will use public health data to identify localized strategies to prevent violence before it occurs.”
Premier Winde concluded: “I would like to thank the SAPS and local law enforcement for their brave work over the last quarter. We know that you put your lives on the line each and every day, and we honour you today. I would also like to thank the SAPS’ provincial leadership for the good spirit of cooperation which they continue to adopt as critical partners in our fight against crime.”
Source: Government of South Africa