1st Quarter Crime Stats shows why SAPS should be devolved

The 8,2% reduction in the murder rate for the 1st quarter of the 2022/23 financial year, at SAPS stations where the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers are currently deployed, is a clear demonstration why SAPS should be devolved to the Western Cape Government (WCG).

LEAP officers stems from the WCG’s Safety Plan, and they are primarily focussed on reducing the murder rate by 50% by 2029. Their deployment is based on data and evidence and where the need is greatest. The areas where they currently are, consist of Atlantis, Bishop Lavis, Delft, Gugulethu, Hanover Park (Philippi), Harare (Khayelitsha), Kraaifontein, Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain and Nyanga.

Reductions in the murder rate occurred in the following LEAP stations:

Bishop Lavis (-9.1%), Atlantis (-30%), and Mitchell’s Plain (-42%), Delft (-.1.6%), Kraaifontein (- 16.4%), Harare (-13.8%), Gugulethu (-8.5%), Khayelitsha (-14.3%), and Mfuleni (-25.9%).

Overall, there is a decrease in 8 of the 13 priority areas in the Western Cape.

Minister Reagen Allen said: “As the Western Cape Government, we will continue to be proactive, as we want to ensure that our residents are able to live in safer communities. So much more can be achieved when you have a capable government that is focussed on addressing crime and not using it as a political tool. I’d like to thank the LEAP officers, SAPS and all other law enforcement agencies, along with neighbourhood watches, CPF’s, and all relevant stakeholders for their continued commitment to combatting crime.”

Whereas murder increased by 11.5% in the country when compared with the same period in 2021/22, in the Western Cape increased by 0.2% (2 cases). There were 994 murders recorded in the Western Cape for the period April to June 2022, compared with 992 in 2021/22.

There were 161 gang related murders. This is the second highest cause of murders in the province, with arguments at 195 incidents being the highest cause and retaliation/revenge/punishment being the third highest with 111 incidents.

Increases were recorded in Nyanga (+31.6%), Philippi East (+39.4%) and Samora Machel (+31.6). it should be noted that Nyanga, and no other station in the Western Cape is the murder capital of the country.

Minister Reagen Allen added: “Although the murder rate only increased by 2 additional cases, the overall total of 994 murders remains too high and is deeply concerning. In fact, one murder is one too many and it is critical that we strengthen our fight against crime in general. These increases shows that we cannot let our guard down and we need to be more coordinated in our approach and application. The turnaround that we are continuing to see in most areas has to be replicated in other areas too. Our recently launched Safety Dashboard is already helping us identify exactly where the LEAP officers are mostly required, so that we are direct and deliberate in their deployment.”

“I will continue engaging the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt. Gen Thembisile Patekile about not only the crime statistics, but how much better we can work together. Safety is everyone’s responsibility and if we’re to half the murder rate, we need all role-players, public and private, along with our neighbourhood watches and CPF’s to be actively involved in combating crime,” concluded Minister Reagen Allen.