The third-quarter crime statistics released on Friday paint a bleak picture of ongoing violent and drug-related crime in Kraaifontein as a severe lack of police resources fail to stem the tide.
Although some successes on the part of the police reveal a silver lining, Kraaifontein is fourth on the national top-30 list where the most community-reported serious crimes take place.
The statistics that cover the period October to December 2023 show all contact crimes, save for a slight decrease in murder and common assault, have climbed from the previous year.
With an overall increase of 9,8%, the Kraaifontein police precinct was in sixth position in the country on the top-30 list for contact crimes.
For murders Kraaifontein featured as eighth on the same list, with 49 recorded in the three-month period (11 counts lower), 30 attempted murders (six counts more), 79 sexual offences (a 17,9% increase), 167 assaults with the intention to do grievous bodily harm (7,65% increase), 308 common assaults (3,4% increase), 66 common robberies (13,8% increase) and 210 aggravated robberies, a 34% increase. Twenty-one homes and eight businesses were robbed, and 14 cars hijacked.
Compared to last year’s number of 796, and reflecting an increase in police activities, 860 drug-related crimes were detected as a result of police action in this quarter.
In total, 948 crimes were detected as a result of police action, placing Kraaifontein second on the national list. These crimes include driving under the influence and possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Rob Bisset, chair of the Tygerberg Cluster Community Police Forum (CPF) and outgoing chair at Kraaifontein CPF, said the current crime trends were alarming and a second police station was urgently needed.
“Not only is crime increasing in numbers, but the red line is expanding as crime increases,” he said.
“This means the violent crime parameter is jumping over the N1 towards neighbourhoods on the other side of Kraaifontein and beyond where crime numbers were traditionally lower. Despite police doing the best they can with the assistance of law-enforcement officers, drug and gun crimes are getting worse in Kraaifontein.
The number of crimes detected by police in Kraaifontein (948) looked good on paper, according to Bisset, but is by far not enought in a high-crime suburbs such as Kraaifontein.
“Last year alone 3 000 more metal shacks sprang up in Bloekombos. The population is constantly growing and with it the need for another police station.”
Bisset, last year, requested from the National Police Minister Bheki Cele an additional police station in Kraaifontein, but had not received any response.
“Without another police station and more policemen I don’t foresee the crime numbers coming down any time soon,” he said. “Without more manpower the police cannot curb crime in Kraaifontein.”
Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety Reagen Allen said his department would engage the Provincial Police Commissioner about a turnaround strategy and how this would be executed.
“The police cannot divorce themselves from fulfilling their constitutional mandate, which is to keep all of us safe,” he said.
“It’s been established already that the national government has no care for the safety of the residents of the Western Cape.
“The devolution of policing powers to a capable provincial government such as ourselves is urgently required, as we will empower the police with the necessary resources and equipment to fight crime effectively.
“As the Western Cape Government we have been consistent in ensuring that our Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (Leap) officers are visible, present, and resourced in all murder hotspot areas.
“Our officers are deployed based on data, evidence and where the need is greatest. The Western Cape is committed to doing everything in its power to reduce the scourge of crime and violence facing our communities.”
