Midrand police in the top 10 of crime-plagued police stations in South Africa
In a bid to combat crime, police Minister Bheki Cele said Operation Okae Moloa has been upgraded and nationalised into Operation Shanela [Sweep].
Rape, sexual assault, murder, and burglaries were some of the most crimes that propelled the Midrand Police Station into the 10th spot nationally in terms of the highest recorded crime figures in the country.
This paints a bleak picture for Midrand police who continue to battle crime in the policing precinct.
In the latest crime statistics released by police minister Bheki Cele on May 30, Midrand police struggled with common assault and carjacking which increased by 40.4% and 73.5 respectively.
Cele said Operation Okae Moloa has been upgraded and nationalised into Operation Shanela [Sweep].
“Our crime figures show, no matter which part of the country you are in, crime escalates over the weekends. Station commanders must work side by side with their members on the ground, as they sweep the streets clean from crime,” said Cele.
Murder increased countrywide, by 3.4% between January and March 2023.
6 289 people were killed with either a firearm, knife, sharp and blunt instruments, stone and even bare hands, between January and March this year.
The majority of the killings took place in the KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng provinces with arguments, vigilantism and robberies topping the motive list for murder.
On gender-based violence incidents, Cele said between January and March this year, fewer children were killed in South Africa compared to the same period last year.
These crimes then put the Midrand police fourth in the province.
“We again call on government at all levels, to support policing efforts by addressing the country’s drivers of crime. Without community participation, police will never win the war against crime,” said Cele.
“Demonstrative to our commitment to work hand in glove with communities, for the first time in the history of policing, this administration has realised the funding of Community Policing Forums (CPFs)”
R70 million of the SAPS budget in this financial year will go to all provinces to support CPFs in terms of their resource requirements.
This funding will mean CPF members are not short of protective clothing, torches, communication material and other tools of the trade to enable them to be fit for purpose.
Details: Midrand Police Station 011 347 1600.
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