Crime figures falling in Gauteng, but statistics still worrying

The Gauteng Legislative Assembly portfolio committee on community safety has commended the efforts of the Gauteng Police and other law enforcement agencies in significantly reducing overall crime during the first quarter of the financial year 2024/25.

Committee chairman Bandile Masuku acknowledged the progress but noted that despite the decrease in crime, many residents still do not feel safe in their homes and communities.

“While the Committee recognizes and welcomes these achievements, it remains attentive to the results of the Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey (GPSJS) 2023/24, published by Statistics South Africa.

“The survey reveals that many South Africans still believe more needs to be done in the fight against crime. This concern is well-founded and the Committee shares the public sentiment that crime continues to pose a significant challenge,” Masuku said.

His remarks were in response to provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni, who noted that overall crime statistics show a positive step towards safer communities across the province.

The latest statistics indicate a decrease of 4,709 cases compared to last year, representing a 4.5% reduction in overall crime. Between April and June 2024, Gauteng recorded several notable achievements, including 65,445 arrests, including 11,688 undocumented immigrants.

According to the provincial police, 16 of the 17 crimes reported by the community saw a reduction, a remarkable achievement for Gauteng.

During this period, law enforcement recovered 1,492 firearms and 1,968 kg of drugs, contributing to a safer environment. Contact crimes, which include offenses such as murder, attempted murder and aggravated robbery, fell by 5.4%. Additionally, arson and malicious property damage decreased by 7.5%.

Overall, property crimes, including residential and commercial burglaries, vehicle thefts and inventory thefts, decreased by 6.7%.

Police also obtained an additional 37 life sentences and 1,827 years of imprisonment during this period. This includes 26 life sentences for sexual offences, nine life sentences for murder and significant convictions for crimes relating to infrastructure damage.