RUSTENBURG HERALD - MAHIKENG - Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) Wessels Morweng briefed the media on Tuesday morning, 10 September before the release of the first quarter crime statistics, reported at all 85 police stations in the province.
The statistics are for the first quarter of the current financial year, from April to June 2024. "We have previously emphasised our plans on reducing the levels of crime. It is worth repeating that criminals have no space in society and must be dealt with harshly as they show no mercy when engaging in their heinous acts," stated Morweng.
He also commented on the disturbing, growing trend of criminal groupings calling themselves business forums. "Some of these groupings subject senior government officials to untold profanities to force them to break the law. This shall not be tolerated...Any contravention of any law of the Republic, will be dealt with in the harshest way possible." Morweng thus called on the business sector to follow proper processes.
Unfortunately, the presentation on the crime statistics revealed that some of the provincial stations appear in the Top 30 nationally, in various crime categories. Amongst these, Rustenburg, who is at number six nationally for property related crimes. Rustenburg, Mahikeng and Brits are also in the Top 10 nationally of burglaries reported - both residential and non-residential.
"In general, the crime figures in the province have increased compared to the previous counting period. There is a 5% increase on reported crimes, with 1 113 more cases compared to the same reporting period the preceding year. Contact crime has increased by 8.8% whilst murder cases have increased by 20.3%. Of the 278 murder cases that were reported, 13 cases were of multiple murders, wherein more than one person was killed in one incident. Although sexual offences have decreased by 4.3% which accounts to 36 cases, rape remains a challenge, with an increase of 0.3%."
The statistics also made mention of illegal mining activities in some parts of the province - Bojanala District counting amongst the highest. Morweng mentioned that illegal mining activities have led to a number of murder incidents. "Though this remains problematic, we have to commend our law enforcement as several undocumented foreign nationals have been arrested through national operation “Vala Umgodi”."
Morweng also made mention of the fact that as law enforcement is busy fighting crime, there are some in society that are aiding it and abating police progress. "Just this past weekend in Rustenburg, an accomplice who appeared in court, allowed illegal miners to use his bedroom as an entrance to the nearby mine shaft."
Areas that experienced high levels of stock theft crime include Ngaka Modiri Molema and again, Bojanala. In total, stock theft cases have increased by 8.3%.
Morweng announced, that as part of the broader plan to fight crime, government is implementing "Crime Prevention through Environmental Design. This plan focuses on designing systems to reduce the opportunity for crime and increase the ease of detection and identification of criminals."
"In supporting our men and women in blue in the fight against crime, we are strengthening the Community Policing Forums. With our Crime Prevention through Environmental Design, we identify crime spots areas and where necessary, cut bushes which are havens for criminals."
Speaking about gender-based violence, Morweng said, "We will continue to monitor the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act (DVA) to ensure that there is compliance in servicing victims and survivors. We will identify vulnerable groups in hotspot areas for installation of household safety gadgets, as well as distribution of personal safety alarms to promote neighbourhood watch and increase the level of safety in the prevention of GBV and related crimes.
"The truth is crime can and will never be defeated, unless we work collaboratively with all stakeholders, including communities," concluded Morweng.
