North West MEC for Transport and Public Safety, Wessels Morweng, has expressed concern about the increase of crime in the province.
These as the crime statistics for the first quarter of 2023/24 recorded an increase of various crime categories in the province, when compared to the previous counting period.
“There is a 5% increase of reported crimes, with 1113 more cases compared to the same reporting period the preceding year.
Contact crime has increased by 8.8% whilst murder cases have increased by 20.3%.
Of the 278 murder cases that were reported, 13 cases were of multiple murders, wherein more than one person was killed in one incident.
Although sexual offences have decreased by 4.3% which accounts to 36 cases, rape remains a challenge, with an increase of 0.3%,” said Morweng who was speaking during the presentation of the crime statistics in Mahikeng.
Morweng said he’s also appalled that some of the provincial stations appear in the top 30 nationally in various crime categories.
He cited Rustenburg which is ranked at number six nationally for property related crimes.
The Mmabatho and Brits police stations are in the top ten nationally of burglaries reported at both residential and non-residential premises.
The statistics also noted an increase in stock theft in the province.
“Taung and Ganyesa at the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality have recorded rising figures of stock theft.
Other areas that are experienced high levels of this crime include
the Ngaka Modiri Molema and Bojanala Platinum District Municipalities are some of the areas that are experiencing high level.
In total, stock theft cases have increased by 8.3%,” explained Morweng.
The MEC acknowledged that illegal mining activities in some parts of the province especially in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Bojanala Districts Municipalities.
He however emphasized that various police operations have led to the arrests of zama zamas.
“This is not just an illicit activity but has also led to a number of murder incidents, arising from rival groups or confrontations with law enforcement officers.
Though this remains a problematic area, we must commend our law enforcement as several undocumented foreign nationals had been arrested through national operation called ‘Vala Umgodi’.
Court cases involving these suspects is underway,” highlighted the MEC.
Morweng assured residents that there are plans to reduce levels of crime in the province, by using various means available to fight the scourge.
He also called on the police officers to defend themselves by all necessary means when confronted by criminals.
“But as I have indicated two months ago in the Departmental policy speech, as part of the broader plan to fight crime, we are implementing what we call Crime Prevention through Environmental Design.
This plan focuses on designing systems to reduce the opportunity for crime and increase the ease of detection and identification of criminals,” said Morweng.
Other measures include the strengthening the Community Policing Forums, monitor the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act to ensure that there is compliance in servicing victims and survivors, identify vulnerable groups in hotspots areas for installation of household safety gadgets, as well as distribution of personal safety alarms to promote neighbourhood watch and increase the level of safety in the prevention of GBV and related crimes.
