Serious crimes on the rise in Ekurhuleni, despite Lesufi’s crime wardens
28 November 2023
While Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, announced that 10 of the 17 crime categories have seen reductions in their reporting in the second quarter crime statistics, the Democratic Alliance (DA) remains concerned about the state of crime in Ekurhuleni.
Murder in Ekurhuleni has increased by 12.1%, with 500 people being murdered in the city between July and September this year, up from 446 in the same period in 2022.
A number of police stations also recorded a substantial increase in crime during the same period. Primrose Police Station is leading with a 290% increase in murders and is rated the fourth highest in the province in murder cases. Tembisa South also increased by 80% in murders. At least 11 Ekurhuleni police stations are in the top 40 stations for murder in the province.
Other crimes that have increased in this period in Ekurhuleni include:
- Attempted murder: 7% increase
- Assault with the intention to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH): 0.5% increase.
- Robbery at residential properties: 28.5% increase
- Cash in transit: 100% increase
- Motor vehicle theft: 2.6% increase
Crime continues to increase despite the crime-fighting wardens being granted nearly R1.5 billion to combat crime in the province. The DA has observed these same wardens in Crystal Park Police Station, acting as commissioners of oath. This does not amount to combating crime, and the DA will continue to hold Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to account for wasting scarce resources on an unproductive programme to combat crime in the province.
The DA remains adamant that crime statistics, not the number of operations carried out, should be the only indicator of whether the crime strategy in Gauteng is effective. We will continue to fight for Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko, and the Premier to account for the department’s failure to bring about meaningful reductions in crime statistics across the province and Ekurhuleni.
Issued by Ruhan Robinson, DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Community Safety, 28 November 2023
