GP community safety committee visit crime-ridden Soshanguve
Only two out of 197 murder cases being investigated by officers in the Rietgat policing area near Tshwane have made it to court in the first quarter.
This was according to station commander Brigadier Govender, who presented the latest crime report to the Gauteng Legislature’s portfolio committee for community safety in Jukulyn and surrounding areas on Thursday afternoon.
The portfolio committee held a public meeting in the area, which has been the scene of high-profile murder cases.
Earlier this year, community members bemoaned services at the station during a community imbizo, accusing officers of corruption and slow investigation turnaround times.
The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety held a public meeting today in Soshanguve to engage with community members on crime-related issues impacting them. The discussion focused on crime prevalence in Jukulyn and surrounding areas. The Rietgat Police Station presented recent… pic.twitter.com/e0LyvxILd4
— GPLegislature (@GPLegislature) November 7, 2024
Govender broke down the status of dockets at the station, including 99 of rape.
“Murder under investigation 197, two were in court, one was found guilty, zero not guilty, and zero withdrawn. Six were closed as undetected. For house robberies, 39 are under investigation, two to court. Two were withdrawn, and 14 were closed as undetected.
“Rape; 99 cases are under investigation, 19 were taken to court, one guilty, 15 were withdrawn, and another 15 were closed undetected.”
The police station recorded a 35% increase in contact crimes between April and June compared to the same period last year.
The station services the notorious Jukulyn area, north of Tshwane – which made headlines at the beginning of the year – following the New Year’s Day murder of four people – including a teenager and an off-duty police officer.
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“There was an increase of 34.7% in contact crimes—the main contributors there have been assault GBH, common assault, and total common robbery,” said Brigadier Govender.
“Contact-related crimes; there was an increase of 51.4%, and there was a difference of 18 cases from the previous year. Most of them had been domestic violence related, including the assaults.”
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