The latest crime statistics show Kraaifontein to be the third most violent place in the province, and the fourth in the country – a dire situation for the crime ridden communities in the suburb.
The provincial breakdown of the crime statistics for the third quarter of 2024/2025 was presented by Western Cape police commissioner Lt.Gen. Thembisile Patekile and police oversight and community safety minister for the province Anroux Marais last week.
According to the statistics released, a staggering 65 murders were committed in this suburb over the period between October and December last year, representing a 32.7% increase from the previous year. A further 37 attempted murders were reported and 58 sexual offences.
Additionally, there were 353 common assaults and 131 cases of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. A total of 48 common robberies and 209 aggravated robberies were also recorded.
The statistics show that there were 14 instances of car-jacking, 32 home robberies, and nine business robberies during this period.
Overall, 901 crimes against the person were reported to police.
On a positive note, property crime experienced a 19% decline. Sixteen business burglaries were reported, down one incident from the previous year, and 130 home burglaries, down 22.8% from the previous year’s 180 cases. Motor vehicle thefts decreased by two cases from 37 to 35, as did theft from motor vehicles with 63 reported cases, down from 82 in the previous year.
Furthermore, commercial crime climbed with 2% from 137 cases in the previous year to 154, while 23 shoplifters were caught.
Crimes detected through police action saw a 34% decline. The figures are as follows: 546 drug-related cases, 15 cases involving firearms or ammunition, and 63 arrests for driving under the influence.
Second police station
During his remarks at the delivery of the crime statistics, Patekile said it is a possibility that Kraaifontein in future will receive a second police station due to the expansion of the area.
Alluding to this, Rob Bisset, chair of Tygerberg Cluster Community Police Forum (CPF) and former chair of the Kraaifontein CPF said a second police station had been requested from former minister of police Bheki Cele since as far a back as 2016.
“I have been fighting for this for years, but the national budget never allowed it. The truth is, a new police station north of the N1 is now needed more so than ever before. With the new airport coming, Kraaifontein is going to mushroom, that while the crime statistics is not looking good all round.”
Bisset says more community engagement is needed to bring down the crime rate down.
“We need more community informants to find out where the guns and the gangsters are. Community engagement and cooperation will play a vital role in combatting crime and to reduce crime rates. As the area grows, it will require not only more police presence but also a stronger partnership between law enforcement and the community to effectively address the challenges ahead.”
