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The Eastern Cape recorded a slight decrease in the number of murders during the third quarter of the current financial year, despite an increase countrywide.
Releasing the crime stats for October to December last year, Police Minister Bheki Cele said 155 more people were murdered in the three months compared to the same period the year prior, bringing the total to seven thousand.
Cele said while the Eastern Cape's murder rate has shown a decline, the province remains one of the murder hotspots in the country.
“The majority of the top 30 stations where murder was most reported includes, the Western Cape, Kwazulu Natal and Eastern Cape,” he said.
DA MPL, Bobby Stevenson, said while the province’s murder rate was down slightly from 1,501 to 1,460 for the quarter, the Eastern Cape “has the highest number of multiple murder cases” at 85.
“The third quarter crime stats for 2023/24 financial year, dealing with the period between October and December 2023, shows that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is losing the battle.
“The province still has the highest murder ratio at 22 per 100,000 of the population and had seven stations in the top 30 stations nationally for murder, namely Mthatha, New Brighton, Motherwell, Willowvale, KwaZakhele, Libode and Lusikisiki,” Stevenson said.
The Eastern Cape also recorded 2, 518 sexual offence cases that were opened in the three months under review, with Mthatha having the third-highest number of cases reported in the country.
“While burglaries of residential premises have come down slightly, there were still 4,253 cases reported.
"But worryingly, robbery at residential premises have escalated by 3,4%, with 571 cases reported, meaning criminals are becoming more brazen and are entering our homes, armed, while we are present".
Robbery at non-residential premises has jumped the most, from 461 cases to 626 cases, a staggering 35,8% increase.
“The reality is we cannot keep doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results. We need a grander vision that is solutions-orientated if we are to bring crime under control,” Stevenson said.
