This is only one of the findings highlighted during the release of the national crime statistics recently. The Carletonville policing precinct had 27 reported kidnappings last year. During the previous year, there were only two, in 2020 only five and, in the two years before, only one and two kidnappings in our area. This placed Carletonville at number 10 in the top 10 policing precincts with the highest number in the country. Although Inanda in KwaZulu-Natal has the most kidnappings in the country, with 54 cases reported last year, the rest of the top 10 areas are all in Gauteng. Johannesburg Central and Randfontein came in at Nos. 2 and 3.

Carletonville scored even higher on the top ten list of cash-in- transit robberies, coming in at number four in this crime cate-gory. Two incidents were reported during the time in question. During the same time the previous year, two cases were also reported. The top areas where cash-in-transit robberies occurred are Kempton Park, Krugersdorp and Diepsloot, each reporting three cases. On a better note, Carletonville also came in among the top ten stations where the most people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Here, Carletonville ranked number seven, with 121 such arrests made. Germiston was first, with 315 arrests, Queenstown in the Eastern Cape, second with 167 arrests and Thohoyandou in Limpopo third, also with 167 arrests. Khutsong came in at No. 24 on this list. Meanwhile, Fochville came in at No. 20 in the list for stations where the most arson cases were reported.