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The DA in North West notes with concern the rising crime statistics for the Fourth Quarter, from January to March 2023, released by SAPS yesterday in Mahikeng.

The 4.8% increase in reported crimes compared to the same period last year is an indication that the SAPS is losing the fight against crime and that North West residents are increasingly falling victim to criminal activity. Neither the national nor the North West provincial Government have any concrete strategies to reduce crime and ensure safer communities.

Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, announced in his department’s budget speech that R1,8 billion has been made available to purchase police vehicles, unmanned vehicles, and drones, it is yet to be clear how many of these resources will be directed to North West to increase police visibility and crime prevention initiatives.

The North West Department of Community Safety and Transport Management’s anti-crime imbizos are evidently not helping the fight against crime. Most of these crime imbizos have been held in the Bojanala district, yet the district remains the hardest hit by crime and accounts for 41,6% of the total reported crimes in the province.

Rustenburg recorded the highest number of reported crime incidents in the province and ranks the seventh highest crime hotspot in the country. The rising Rustenburg crime statistics justify the allocation and redeployment of more resources to police stations, specifically additional police officers, vehicles, crime-fighting technology, a boost in local intelligence services and capacitating the Tactical Response Team.

The Mmabatho Police Station recorded the highest number of sexual-related crimes and there has been an increase in incidents of child neglect and ill-treatment. This requires collaborative efforts between SAPS and the Departments of Health and Social Development to effectively ensure crimes against children are prevented, investigated and perpetrators prosecuted, while ensuring that complementary physical and mental health treatment is made available to child victims.

The slow response time by police remains a big obstacle to effectively responding to criminal activity. Police allegedly took more than eight hours to respond to the recent burglary at the North West Parks Board where 51 pieces of rhino horn were stolen while the nearest police station is just 4 kilometres away.

Under the DA Western Cape government, crime has shown a significant decrease due to the provincial government’s commitment to creating safer communities. The DA Western Cape Government has a dedicated data and evidence-based strategy, employing technology to reduce crime while investing to increase the number of Law Enforcement Advancement Plan Officers across the province.

The DA can implement the same strategy to ensure safer communities in North West. In next year’s election, a vote for the DA will be a vote for safer communities.

Issued by Freddy Sonakile MPL - DA North West Provincial Deputy Leader