Alarming number of cases of burglary at residential premises

Minister of Police General Bheki Cele presented the quarterly crime statistics, reflecting crimes reported to SAPS during the first quarter of the 2022/23 financial year.

This period covers crimes reported from April 1 when the country was still in lockdown to the end of June 2022.

The minister said he is concerned about the rate at which women and children are abused, violated and some killed.

“This is worrying and unacceptable as many are killed by the people they know, people they love and trust.

“In the three months of reporting, a double-digit percentage increase was recorded for murder, attempted murder and assault GBH against women.

“Over 13 000 women were victims of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm between July and September 2022.

“One-thousand-two-hundred-and-seventy-seven women were victims of attempted murder and 989 women were murdered during this reporting period,” he added.

Cele added that over 10 000 rape cases were opened with the SAPS, between July and September this year.

From a sample of 8 227 rape incidents that were perused it was determined that 5 083 occurred at the residence of the victims or perpetrators.

“One-thousand-six-hundred-and-fifty-one of the rape incidents occurred at public places such as streets, parks and beaches. Sixty-nine people were raped at abandoned buildings,” he explained.

The crime stats further indicate that 58 children were killed in South Africa from April to the end of September 2022.

Police are investigating attempted murder dockets of 294 children from July to September 2022.

A total of 1 895 assault GBH cases, with children as victims, were opened with the police during this reporting period.

Moving closer to home, there were 32 reported cases of robbery in non-residential premises reported at the Springs Police Station.

This is an increase from the 16 that was reported during the same period last year. The station is seated at position 13 out of the top 30 stations in the country.

There were 75 cases of burglary at residential premises reported with an increase of 30, which were reported during the same period last year.

This is a 66.6% increase from the 45 that was reported last year in the same period. The station occupies position 16 in the top 30 stations nationally.

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