North West records highest drop in murder, cash in transit robberies and arson

The North West province recorded the highest decrease in murder, cash in transit robberies and arson in the country during the 2009/10 financial year and an overall decrease in crime as compared to past financial years.

According to the overview of the crime statistics presented by MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa to stakeholders on Thursday in Potchefstroom, murder was reduced by 13,4%,Cash in transit robberies by 3,3% and arson by 20%.

MEC Yawa highlighted that Mafikeng, the provincial capital is the best place to live in as its cluster recorder reduction of all crime categories, including 60% for carjacking and 51% for murder. No bank robberies were reported in Mafikeng and the Rustenburg cluster in the last financial year.

Bank related crime was reduced by 70%, bank robberies by 57%, business robberies including attempted by 20% in the Rustenburg Cluster. The province has also experienced significant reduction in bank robberies by 46,2 %, illegal possession of firearms by 19,1%, kidnapping by12,8%, theft not mentioned elsewhere by 12%, street robberies by 9%, sexual offences by 8,9%, shoplifting by 7,6%, crimen injuria by 6,2%, assault common by 4,7%, neglect /ill-treatment of children by 3,9%, robbery with aggravating circumstance by 3%, robbery common by 2,7%,robbery residential by 2%, malicious damage to property and culpable homicide both decreased by 1,5%, Assault with intend to inflictgrievous bodily harm by 1,4% and business burglary stood at 0,2%.

“All these successes in crime reduction are attributed to the sacrifices and tireless efforts of our police officers, police reservists, volunteers, community policing forums supported by cluster community policing boards and led by the provincial community policing board, the business sector and faith based organisations,” said Yawa.

Despite the general reduction in various categories, Yawa said that the province is challenged to redouble its effort to bring down truckjacking and public violence which increased to 42,9% and 30% respectively. The province also recorded 15,4% increase in commercial crime (mostly ATM card related), the highest in the country. Stock theft increased by 13,4%, drug related cases by 8,4%, carjacking and robbery from non residential premises by 8,3%, attempted murder by 6,5%,burglary residential, theft of motor and bike and theft out of motor vehicles by 4% respectively. Based on lessons learnt during the Football World Cup, a Provincial Command Centre is being set up, war rooms reengineered to coordinate 10 111 processes and monitor all police vehicles. The business reengineering process led by the newly appointed Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Zukiswa Mbombo includes allocation of additional resources and vehicles.

Police will henceforth focus their attention on cultivating the attitude of reporting crime in order to turn the tide against crime and allocate adequate resources to assist the process. MEC Yawa said that intelligence component of SAPS are being revitalised to play a crucial role in the war against crime and to serve as nerve centre to ensure their integration into all aspects of policing.

“In areas where there have been positive in-roads, we wish to reiterate that we will continue to work hard and smart to entrench these successes. Accordingly, in areas where there have been some increases in crime, we re-commit ourselves to finding and working with all stakeholders to ensure we create a safer North West. This is our mission and this is our conviction,” concluded Yawa.

Focused strategies and approaches to increase community mobilisation are also being considered by Yawa’s department in partnership with the provincial community policing board to expedite the establishment of street committees and recruitment of street patrollers.

Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Fax:(018 381 9123
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za