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The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape has called on the provincial government to develop a comprehensive safety plan to "rescue the province from its downward spiral of violent crime."
The appeal on Tuesday came from DA MPL, Bobby Stevenson after 4th quarter crime statistics showed that the murder rate in the Eastern Cape increased 6.4% compared to last year, with 1112 people tragically losing their lives in the province.
"The province still has the highest murder rate in the country, with 16.7 murders per 100 000," he said.
According to Stevenson, Nelson Mandela Bay has become the hotspot for murder in the province, with five of the top 30 stations in the country, namely New Brighton, Bethelsdorp, Kwazakhele, Motherwell, and KwaNobuhle, all within the metro precinct.
"Carjackings increased by 12.3%, with 365 cases recorded, with New Brighton a hotspot, and truck hijackings increased by 35.7%."
He said there was also the worrying trend of residential robberies which increased by 24.7%, to 555 cases in three months.
"This could be attributed to criminals becoming more brazen as the load shedding crisis deepens. Terrified residents continue to barricade themselves in at night, particularly during load shedding," he added.
Stevenson said he welcome the announcement by the Police Minister of an injection of R6.5 million to strengthen Community Policing Forums (CPF) across the province.
"Only by working together will we be able to turn the tide of violent crime that is unabatedly sweeping across the Eastern Cape," he said.
