Murder and rape increase in Kraaifontein - crime stats

Murder and rape in Kraaifontein increased from the beginning of July until the end of September compared to the same period in 2023, according to the latest police crime data released by police on Monday November 25.

There were 52 cases of murder in those three months, up 8.3% from the 48 cases that were reported last year in the same period.

Kraaifontein police station was in the top 12 in the country and the top six for the province for murders.

Rape had increased by three cases in Kraaifontein. Forty cases of rape were recorded from the beginning of July until the end of September last year, while there were 43 cases reported this year, making it a 7.5% increase.

Kraaifontein was at the top three in the province and number 17 in the country for the rape.

The burglary at residential premises stats dropped by 79 cases in Kraaifontein. There were 123 cases this year, down 39.1% from the 202 cases that were reported last year. Kraaifontein was number two in the province, after Worcester, and number 21 countrywide. This policing precinct was once at the top spot in the province for home burglaries for four quarters in a row.

In Goodwood, common robbery dropped by 29.5%. There were 95 cases from the beginning of July until the end of September 2023, whilst there were 67 cases this year. Goodwood was in the top eight in the province and top 19 in the country.

Theft out of or from motor vehicles dropped by 10 cases in Goodwood. There were 120 cases from the beginning of July until the end of September in this year, down 7.7% from the 130 cases that were reported in that same period last year. Goodwood was number eight in the province and number 30 countrywide.

But shoplifting increased by 18 cases or 35.3% in Goodwood. There were 69 cases from the beginning of July until the end of September this year, up from the 51 cases reported in that same period last year. Goodwood was number six in the province and number 23 in the country.

In Bellville, thefts out of or from a motor vehicle had decreased by 99 cases. There were 205 cases from the beginning of July until the end of September this year, down 32.6% from 304 cases reported in the same period last year. Bellville was top three in the province and top 7 countrywide.

Common robbery cases have increased in Bellville. There were 69 cases from the beginning of July until the end of September in this year, up 6.2% from the 65 cases. Bellville was number seven in the province and number 17 countrywide.

The statistics further indicated that murder decreased by 5.8% and rape decreased by 3.1% in the whole country, while robbery at residential premises and non-residential premises decreased by 1.3% and 21.1%, respectively.

“Among the 17 community-reported crime categories monitored, the only increases were observed in attempted murder, assault with grievous bodily harm and commercial crime, which rose by 2.2%, 1.0% and 18.5% respectively,” said Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu.

Mayoral committee for safety and security, JP Smith, said the data was encouraging as it indicated gains in the Cape Town hotspots.

“Not only has serious crime dropped in areas like Delft, Nyanga and Mitchells Plain, but crimes dependent on police action like the recovery of contraband, narcotics and illegal firearms have increased.

“This is a feather in the cap of the officers who do daily patrols in some of our most crime-ravaged areas, recovering drugs and firearms and other illicit goods,” he said.

MEC of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, said: “I remain concerned that our crime levels are still unacceptably high. Now is not the time for complacency. We should take heart from the decrease in murder to redouble our efforts to further push down crime.”