- The latest crime statistics released by the Minister of Police show a significant increase in murder and carjacking cases in Nyanga, Khayelitsha, and Harare police stations, with Nyanga topping the national murder rate.
- Local Community Policing Forum (CPF) members attribute the surge in crime to extortion and substance abuse, with Nyanga CPF secretary Dumisani Qwebe calling for a strategic approach to deal with perpetrators.
- CPF members in Harare and Khayelitsha are urging the community to work with officers to protect their areas, with Khayelitsha CPF spokesperson Zoliswa Yapi emphasizing that officers alone cannot fight crime without community assistance.
Local Community Policing Forum (CPF) members are worried about the latest crime statistics released by the Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on Friday 30 August.
The figures reflect on the crime trends for the period between April and June this year, compared to the same period last year.
The numbers paint a grim picture for numerous areas that fall under the City Vision distribution and the CPF leaders are not happy.
They blamed the surge in crime on the extortion phenomenon that is currently gripping the country.
According to the figures, Nyanga Police Station has topped the list on murder category at national and provincial level.
During the period under review, the station registered 79 murder cases, from 48 between the same period last year, an increase of 31 cases, which constitutes 64,6% uptick.
The station is followed by Khayelitsha Police Station, which is on position four nationally and two in the Western Cape with 68 murder cases from 47 in 2023. The number increased with 21 cases, which equates to 44,5% rise.
Harare Police Station is in position five nationwide and three in the province with 65 murder cases from 58 cases the previous year. It increased by seven cases, a 12,1% gain.
In the carjacking category, Nyanga Police Station is also leading both nationally and provincially with 98 cases from 81 cases registered last year. The cases increased with 17 cases, a 21% uptick.
Harare Police Station is following on position two at national and provincial level with 92 cases from 100 cases, a decrease by eight.
Philippi-East Police Station is in fifth position on national and third provincial lists with 80 cases from 78 cases. It increases with only two cases and it makes 2,6%.
Khayelitsha Police Station is on 11th position nationally and fifth provincially with 53 cases from 39 cases. That is an increase of 35,9%.
Nyanga CPF secretary Dumisani Qwebe said he was not suprised by the figures. He said the numbers reflect what is harpening on the ground.
Qwebe said there is a lot that needs to be done in the Nyanga policing precinct.
“Some of the things that had an impact in the increasing of the numbers are the taxi related wars and extortion. Every time those incidents occur people are dying in large numbers. We need to go back to the drawing board and strategise on how we can deal with the perpetrators,” said Qwebe, citing that public policing is not an easy job.
Harare CPF chair Funeka Soldaat said they are pleased with the decrease in carjacking incidents. She said the area has been top of the list for a while. “It is a great achievement for us to be in second position. Harare has been known for carjacking for a long time. Yes, there is a lot that needs to be done. Our intention is to be out of the top 10 in all the categories,” said Soldaat.
She urged the community not to sit down but work with the officers to protect their areas.
Khayelitsha CPF spokesperson Zoliswa Yapi reiterated Qwebe’s sentiments that the extortion-related killings impacted the murder figures. She also lambasted the tavern and shebeen owners for not acting against the law.
“In most cases it has something to do with substance abuse. Most cases, particularly contact crime, occur after hours when people come from social gatherings and are drunk. We try our best but some people in our communities don’t assist us,” she said.
Yapi stated that officers alone cannot fight crime and need the whole community. She stated that some cases are closed by the officers because there are no witnesses.