Crime stats: Murder, rape on the rise in Gauteng
The South African Police Service says while crime in Gauteng has decreased by 1.6% overall, murder has continued to increase.
Murder is up by 21%.
Provincial police commissioner Elias Mawela released the second quarterly crime statistics on Tuesday.
"The overall crime picture of Gauteng as reflected by the 17 community reported crimes during the second quarter of the 2021/22 financial year (July to September) decreased by 1.6% translating to 1 518 counts lower in comparison with the same period in 2020/21.
"This reduction was brought by the highest decreases recorded by the two crime categories namely, property-related crime and other serious crimes, whilst the other two crime categories (Contact crime and contact-related crime) recorded an increase," he said.
The picture looks grime when it comes to murder as 1 320 people were murdered in the province, this is an increase of 299 when compared to the same period last year.
"Among the many other factors that contributed to the increase in murders in Gauteng, was the July unrests. However, when compared to the previous normal period of 2019/2020 financial year, the murder percentage change would have been an 8.7% increase; an increase that is marginally lower than the current period," said Mawela.
He said the fight against gender-based violence needed more work as sexual violence and rape also increased significantly.
A total of 2 054 cases of rape were open in the three months.
"I have to admit that here, we failed to maintain a downward trajectory we had in 2019/2020 and that is worrisome. The increase in both rape and sexual offences is a challenge that we have to overcome.
"We need to go out there and educate women and children on how to avoid being a victim of rape and sexual assault. Moreover, discourage the men from perpetrating these horrendous crimes, and those who decide to ignore the advice and warnings be dealt with decisively by our courts of law," said Mawela.
Trio crimes also showed stubbornness with an increase in carjackings at 3.4% and business robberies at 1.4%.
ALSO READ:
