North West MEC for Public Safety, Howard Yawa has called for effective and efficient law enforcement and implementation of social crime prevention programmes to reduce the occurrence of crime. MEC Yawa made the call during his presentation of 2008/09 annual crime statistics report to provincial stakeholders in Mafikeng on Friday.
In his overview, MEC Yawa said that the only people who should live in fear are the criminals as the war against crime is intensified for them to forever be on the back foot. He stressed that crime is the enemy that had to be defeated at all costs.
According to the crime statistics report, the North West province has recorded a 70 percent decrease in cash in transit robberies, 28,4 percent decrease in contact crime since 2004/05 to 2008/09 financial years and one percent decrease in contact crimes during the past financial year.
Fraud increased by 64 percent with 1412 cases, mostly Auto Teller Machine (ATM) being reported in Rustenburg. In response to an appeal from the banking sector for visible policing to be improved at shopping complexes, MEC Yawa earlier this month in his meeting with Business against Crime North West (BACNW) committed his department and the police to enter into an agreement with BACNW on deliverables to curb this category of crime.
Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition was reduced by -33, 3 percent in Phokeng, while truck hijacking was reduced by 17 percent with Fochville and Rustenburg recording a -35,7 percent and -27,3 percent decreases respectively.
Business robberies increased by 40 percent with Klerksdorp recording 160 percent increase House robberies increased by 20 percent with Klerksdorp recording a 200 percent increase in cases.
Stock theft increased by 12 percent with Atamelang recording a 48, 9 percent increase. This category of crime was reduced in Makapanstaat (-15,6 percent) and Mmabatho (-0,9 percent).
“The implementation of social crime prevention strategies such as street committees, neighbourhood watch, community patrols, campaigns of destroying markets for stolen goods, installing CCTV cameras and working in partnership with security companies will make us achieve our goals to win the war against crime,” Yawa stressed.
Stakeholders proposed that a Crime Summit should be convened to evaluate the contribution of the Criminal Justice Cluster, various role players and government departments towards the war against crime.
Meanwhile, the Department of Public Safety to coordinate meetings with small traders in the various districts to address crime related to business robberies.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 381 9171
Cell: 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@nwpg.gov.za
