Most of the murders that were recorded in Gauteng took place at liquor outlets, while kidnappings have been on the rise in the province.
This was reflected by the first quarter crime statistics of 2022/23 by provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Elias Mawela on Thursday.
The statistics for the period April to June show that the province recorded 1,490 cases of murders, 293 more than was recorded last year during the same period. This reflects an increase of 24.5% in murders committed.
“Out of 1,490 of people who were killed, 155 of them were women and 50 were children. Furthermore, a total of 34 cases of murder registered during the same period were related to domestic violence, where female victims were 18 and male victims were 16,” he said.
“A further analysis on the murders that we have recorded in the province has revealed what we already knew, that firearms are frequently used as instruments of choice to commit murder, whereby out of 1,490 cases of murder reported, in 697 a firearm was used.”
According to the data analysis, most murders took place at liquor outlets such as taverns and pubs with firearms being the instrument of choice to carry out the murders. Between June and July, the province saw a streak of shootings in or near taverns in areas such Soweto, Mamelodi as well as Mathole, near Roodepoort.
At least 1,902 cases of kidnappings were recorded in the province; this is 1,100 more incidents compared to the same period last financial year. Hijackings remained the top causative factor. About 1,113 of kidnappings resulted from hijackings, followed by robbery related with 242, taxi related with 110, retaliation/revenge with 83 and rape related with 81.
Despite this, Mawela said police had their hands on the ball.
“In a way we are achieving in what we are doing. Initially it was said that Gauteng was contributing more than 51% of the national crime stats, which is not true, we contribute 28%. But now we have reduced to 27.4%. So gradually we are reducing crime stats in Gauteng.”
sibiyan@soweto.co.za
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