DA concerned over crime rocketing out of control in Boksburg North
The DA said the chronic lack of and proper training of police officers has a direct impact on the high levels of crime.
Michael Waters MP, DA Deputy Chief Whip and Lethabong Constituency Head, has bemoaned how crime has rocketed out of control in Boksburg North police precinct.
He mentioned how sexual offences has increasing by 55 per cent, ranking among the top 30 police stations in the country for various crimes.
This was revealed in the latest crime statistics for the period April 1 to March 31.
“It is unacceptable that the residents of the Boksburg North SAPS precinct live in fear of their lives while criminals run rampant,” said Waters.
“Sexual offences have seen a sharp increase with a staggering 55.2 per cent increase, and assault with intent to do grievously bodily harm had a higher increase of 59.1 per cent.
“Other crimes that saw an increase are, attempted murder 15 per cent, common robbery 25.5 per cent, robbery at residential 19.6 per cent, burglary of non-residential 7.3 per cent, robbery with aggravating circumstances 6.1 per cent and common assault 2.3 per cent.”
Waters said while most police officers are doing what they can, their hands are tied.
“If you look at the international standard of one police officer for every 220 residents, the SAPS is about 44 000 officers short, which has repercussions at local level.
“A recent oversight inspection to the Boksburg North police station for example, has exposed a shortfall of visible police by 50 per cent, 60 visible police officers and five visible policing vehicles.
“In addition the 39 detectives at the station only have 10 cars between them to conduct investigations while the standard is two detectives per vehicle, this is also hampering the investigation of cases and given that the station opens between 300 – 600 cases per month, detectives need to be fully equipped.
“In addition, the spending priorities of the government are totally skewed with the ANC spending on average R9.1-million to protect one VIP but only R1 500 per South African resident.
“So while VIPs spend millions looking after their own, the rest of us are left to fend for ourselves, and our police officers are battling to combat crimes such as rape, carjacking, the 384 residential robberies, cash-in-transit heists and the 416 theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles.”
The DA has pointed out that the Boksburg North police station ranks in the top 30 stations for the following crimes: Theft of motor vehicles and motorcycles (18) and truck hijacking (13).
“What is needed is a fully staffed, equipped and professionally trained police service. In order to achieve that, it will take political will and prioritisation. We can and must win the war on crime.”
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