Murder is on the rise in Mpumalanga
The Mpumalanga department of community safety, security and liaison together with the police released the 2017 crime statistics in Komatipoort on Monday.
The stats are alarmingly showing an increase in cases such as murder, attempted murder, robbery, cash-in-transit, stock theft and dealing in drugs. However, the trends indicate a decrease in sexual offences.
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Mpumalanga police commissioner, Gen. Mondli Zuma, said police cannot succeed in minimising crime in the province without the help of the community. Zuma also conceded that there are corrupt police officers who need to be eradicated. “It came to our attention that some of the crime committed involves the contribution of police, so we asking members of the community to come forth help us get rid of such criminals in our places,” he said.
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Unemployment and poverty are some of the factors outlined to be the main causes of crime in the province.
Some of the stats in figures
· Murder: Up 11.1% to 954 cases
· Sexual Offences: Down 3.5% to 3,216 cases
· Attempted Murder: Up 19.3% to 951 cases
· GBH: Down 4.1% to 10,896 cases
· Aggravated Robbery: Up 11.8% to 6,702 cases
