4 July 2025 - Klerksdorp Record, Klerksdorp - Station Commissioner Brig Dr Tsietsi Morebodi presented the Klerksdorp crime statistics for the 2024/2025 term (April 2024 to March 2025) last week, revealing a complex picture of the local crime landscape.
While overall contact crimes and property-related offences have seen a commendable decline, certain categories and crime hotspots continue to pose significant challenges, demanding sustained police intervention and community vigilance.
Taking a closer look to crime trends, the good news, according to the report, is a notable decrease in contact crimes, dropping by 8.6% from 1 512 cases in the previous financial year to 1 325 cases in 2024/2025.
This decline is largely attributed to significant reductions in common robbery (-31.1%) and robbery with aggravating circumstances (-24.3%). Murder cases also saw a positive downtrend, decreasing by 26.1% to 34 reported incidents. Sexual offences reduced slightly by 3.9%.
However, this positive trend is not universal. Attempted murder cases surged by 19.4%, from 31 to 37 incidents. Similarly, assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm (GBH) increased by 8.4%, rising to 181 cases. There was also an 8.8% increase in contact-related crimes, primarily driven by a 9.5% rise in malicious damage to property.
Property-related crimes demonstrated a significant improvement, with a drop of 11.6% from 1 314 to 1 162 cases. Both non-residential and residential burglaries saw double-digit percentage decreases, down by 16.5% and 21.4% respectively. Other serious crimes, encompassing general theft, shoplifting, and commercial crime, also decreased by 14.1%. The exception here is theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles, which saw an increase of 17%, with 62 vehicles reported stolen.
Identified crime hotspots
The statistics pinpoint specific areas and times where certain crimes are most prevalent:
* Attempted murder: Klerksdorp Central, Alabama, and Dawkinsville are key hotspots. Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, particularly between midnight and 03:59, are identified as high-risk periods. The primary method used in these incidents involves firearms, followed by stabbing.
* Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm (GBH): Alabama stands out prominently as a hotspot, followed by Meiringspark and Klerksdorp Central. Weekends, specifically Saturday and Sunday, and late evenings between 20:00 and midnight, are when most incidents occur. Striking/hitting/beating and stabbing are the most common methods, often involving knives and bottles.
* Malicious damage to property: Alabama, Klerksdorp Central, and Meiringspark are the most affected areas. Saturday and Sunday are the days with the highest reported incidents, particularly in the late afternoon and early evening (16:00-20:00) and late night (midnight to 04:00).
* Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle: Klerksdorp Central, Wilkoppies, and Meiringspark are highlighted as hotspots. Saturday, Tuesday, and Monday are noted as prevalent days for these thefts, with peak times between 20:00 and midnight. Toyota and Volkswagen vehicles and “Big Boy” scooters are the most frequently targeted makes.
Klerksdorp SAPS’ efforts to combat crime
Despite the fluctuating trends, the Klerksdorp SAPS appears to be intensifying its efforts to proactively combat crime. Crimes detected as a result of police action increased significantly by 19.7% in the past year, rising to 365 incidents.
This surge is largely driven by increased detection of drug-related crimes (up 14.8% to 194 cases) and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (up 34.6% to 109 cases). Notably, 28 sexual offences were detected due to police action, a significant increase from zero in the previous year.
The report also details arrests made for specific crimes:
* Out of 182 GBH cases, 78 suspects were apprehended.
* For 37 attempted murder cases, 23 arrests were made.
* Malicious damage to property saw 80 arrests out of 246 cases.
* However, arrests for theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles remain low, with only 5 suspects arrested for 55 cases.
