OR Tambo policing district was flagged as one of the most problematic districts in the Eastern Cape, along with Nelson Mandela and Buffalo City districts, contributing the most to murder, attempted murder, assault, robbery, and sexual offences.
This is contained in the first quarter of the 2024/2025 crime situational analysis report released by Transport and Community Safety MEC, Xolile Nqatha. Crimes under the contact crime category in the province increased, with aggravated robberies up by 5.9%, murder by 2.6%, and attempted murders by 15.9%. Carjacking went up 30%, with a decrease in common robbery of 0.3%, a decline of 13.2% in business robberies, and a 0.1% decrease in sexual offences.
The OR Tambo district contributed 17% to contact crimes, with Mthatha police station placed first in the top five hotspot areas and Lusikisiki taking fifth place. OR Tambo was one of five out of eight districts that showed increases in sexual offences.
“The districts that contributed most to this category of crimes in the Eastern Cape are OR Tambo District with a contribution of 22.3%, showing an increase of 10.4%; Buffalo City District with a contribution of 15.3%, indicating an increase of 5.5%; and Nelson Mandela District with a contribution of 13.6%, depicting a decrease of 5.9%. The top five stations identified as hotspots in rape crimes are Mthatha (2), Lusikisiki (8), Mbizana (22), Libode, and East London,” Nqatha said.
Except for the Joe Gqabi district, all other districts showed a decrease in property-related crimes. OR Tambo contributed 14.5% of the cases, showing a decrease of 4.2%, with Mthatha identified in the top five hotspot areas. Nqatha said that in the Eastern Cape, crimes against women showed increases, with 31 cases of murder, 69 attempted murder cases, and 158 assault cases reported.
For crimes against children, there was an increase of six cases of murder, and eight of attempted murder, with a decrease of two cases of assault.
Undoubtedly, criminals were determined, he said, to terrorise the people of the province. He noted an increase in gang-related violence and extortion, especially in areas such as OR Tambo district and Nelson Mandela Metro.
“As we celebrate the successes in the reduction of crime in certain categories, we will continue our strides to maintain these positive trends. It is through the increase of visible policing and conducting disruptive operations through operations such as Operation Shanela, etc, that are targeting high crime areas and other cross border operations, that we are noting significant improvements.”
He said during the first six months of 2024, police managed to confiscate 747 unlicensed firearms and also made several arrests. For the same period, 35 194 suspects were nabbed for various crimes.
“Allow me to extend a special salute to the National Intervention Unit (NIU) members for their bravery and the defending the rule of law. We want to remind criminals that they must choose to be law-abiding citizens or face the jail or grave. Those who refuse to abide by laws and respect the people of the province. SAPS is ready, they must bring it on.”
Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, said the war on crime must continue, a war that has been declared by heartless criminals on law-abiding citizens.
“Our crime statistics tell us that we can never be complacent and say that our work is done,” she said.
Mene also took the opportunity to announce the appointment of a senior manager at the level of a Brigadier. Colonel Ruby Niewoudt was conferred the rank of a Brigadier as the Provincial Head for Operations (ORS). The appointment is aimed at filling a critical operational position for the amelioration of service delivery in the Eastern Cape.
