Nkosi-Malobane said, “I am particularly concerned about the increases in murder, robbery with aggravated circumstances and common robbery which recorded 10.4 percent, 11.4 percent and 11.6 percent respectively.”
Further increases were also recorded in assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, burglary at business premises (attempts included), carjacking, truck hijacking, house robbery and business robbery. The MEC said this could potentially adversely impact the achievement of transformation, modernisation and re-industrialisation within the province.
She said, “I am also worried by the decline in crime detection as a result of [lack of] police action. This also reflects our deep-seated concern on crime intelligence and visible policing. The categories in this area include drug-related crimes and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.”
Nkosi-Malobane said this was particularly concerning since drugs and alcohol are behind a lot of social crime, interpersonal violence and road accidents and fatalities. The failure to arrest those responsible will increase violence in society, she said.
However, the MEC was encouraged by the slight increase in the recovery of illegal firearms. She said everything should be done to rid society of illegal guns and ammunition, including exploring the possibility of declaring a gun amnesty.
“We are also equally encouraged by decreases in certain categories. These categories are burglary at residential premises (attempts included), theft of motor vehicles, commercial crimes, robbery of cash in transit and rape,” Nkosi-Malobane said.
She also noted that the increase in crime in certain police stations or clusters and attributed it to a number of challenges such as under-resourcing and lack of crime intelligence, however, there are those that are well resourced but continue to perform ineffectively.
In her budget speech last year, Nkosi-Malobane made a pronouncement of an 180-day programme to turn around six of the worst performing police stations in the province. These included Roodepoort, Springs, Honeydew, Sandton, Benoni and Midrand. The MEC said the programme looked at issues such as resourcing, crime mapping, management efficacy, police station crime combating forum effectiveness and community policing.
“We were determined that at the end of the 180-day programme these stations would have lifted out of the worst performing category and comply with certain minimum performance requirements,” Nkosi-Malobane said.
She added that through their intervention, the province recorded improvements at some of the police stations.
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