Kraaifontein, one of the police stations where most of the homicides occur, is severely under-resourced with a police-to-population ratio of 1 police officer for every 740 residents.
In one week, from 24 to 30 September, six murders occurred in Kraaifontein, sufficient evidence that the deployment of police services should be based on data and evidence of where the murder and crime rate is the highest, according to Western Cape minister of police oversight and community safety, Reagen Allen.
Murder rate spike
In a press briefing last week he said the revelation by the national Minister of Police Bheki Cele that more than 100 murders per week occur in the province, is a clear demonstration for this need.
During the same week mentioned above 130 homicides occurred province-wide, the highest for the year, to date.
“Continued and unacceptable police-to-population ratio levels are part of the reasons why the police are unable to be fully effective in combatting crime in these areas,” said Allen.
According to departmental information the ideal staffing requirement at station level across South Africa in the 2021-’22 financial year was 193 476 officers. Currently, there are only 105 935 officers. The granted establishment for the Western Cape is 21 367, but as at the 2020-’21 financial year, this stood at 19 505.
Safety plan
He said it was these shortcomings that prompted the Western Cape Government’s safety plan to, in partnership with the City of Cape Town, deploy the Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (Leap) in 2020.
According to Reagen, Leap officers are strategically deployed, and their operations are based on evidence and data. In Kraaifontein, a top-10 murder area where 72 Leap officers are deployed, violent crime has shown a continued decrease.
In the fourth quarter of the financial year between January and March this year 40 murders were reported in Kraaifontein, 25% less than in the same quarter of the previous year.
“Every year, the Western Cape Government submits its policing needs and priorities to the national minister of police’s office, highlighting the shortfalls and where urgent resource allocations are required. This has and continues however to be ignored,” he added.
“Effectively combatting murders will require a complete overhaul of police operations. There is a need for the national minister to show urgency in this regard. The Western Cape will continue to, through our oversight of the police, exert pressure on them so that they become more effective in their crime fighting efforts. We also remain resolute in our call for the devolution of policing powers to capable provincial governments.”
He expressed his appal at the heartless individuals that have so little regard for life.
“There cannot be any form of empathy for these killers, as they clearly have chosen to live a lawless life. The South African Police Service should swiftly ensure that the perpetrators are arrested, while utilising their intelligence to prevent similar and further atrocities from occurring. I feel for the families of the many victims that lost their lives, especially since they have to deal with the pain of no longer having their loved one around,” he concluded.
