Spokesperson for the Reiger Park police Sgt Mashudu Phathela, revealed that almost each and every weekend, police receive as much as eight complaints of grievous bodily harm.
This does not include common assaults.
Police believe that excessive alcohol consumption is the main risk factor for these assaults.
“The majority of the cases involve alcohol and people who know each other, often partners who have been drinking before the assault.”
Most of these assaults occur over the weekend or outside taverns.
However, Phathela stated that while many, if not most of these cases are alcohol-related, assaults also occur when neither the aggressors nor the victims have been drinking.
“We are deeply concerned about the ongoing problem of assault cases, which has resulted in a number of people being taken to hospitals for serious injuries, or even death,” says Phathela.
Phathela says police are working hard to prevent assaults in the area and to hold those involved accountable.
This significant spike in assaults and domestic violence reported so far this year has prompted police officials to frequently raid legal and illegal taverns.
“During these raids we even confiscate dangerous weapons including knives, firearms and other dangerous items.”
