The recently released crime statistics highlighted the stark reality of communities in the province, which required police to be proactive in their approach.
The Good Party has called for the reallocation of funds from the Western Cape Safety Plan, which has reportedly cost the provincial government over a billion rand since its inception four years ago without making significant progress in the fight against crime.
The crime statistics for the first quarter of 2024/2025, released on Friday, reveal that four out of nine provinces experienced an increase in murder cases.
The Western Cape saw the highest rise, followed by North West, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo.
All of the top 30 stations for murder were located in just four provinces:
Among these, Nyanga recorded the highest number of murders, followed by Inanda, Umlazi, Khayelitsha and Harare.
“It is time for (Premier Alan) Winde to reallocate the funding to address the root causes of crime...Over the past five years, the rate of violent crime in the Western Cape has continued to spiral out of control despite the costly safety plan and the provincial government’s dabbling in a provincial policing project.
“At the time Winde claimed that by throwing more policing resources into the ten police precincts with the highest murder rate, at a cost of R1.2 billion (for the first four years), he would halve the murder rate within ten years. The number of murders, and the murder rate per population ratio, has increased since the launch of the Western Cape Safety Plan – despite the deployment of thousands of these learner law enforcement officers.
“The total number of murders in the province increased from 767 in the first quarter of 2020 to 1 138 in the first quarter of 2024 and the murder rate ratio increased from 11 murders per 100 000 population to 15.3 murders to 100 000 population,” said Herron.
Winde’s office retorted to Herron’s claims, saying the provincial government was doing its best to make the province safer.
“We desperately want to make the Western Cape safer, and we will do everything we can. It is, however, frustrating to see the hypocrisy in Herron's statement. On one hand, he is demanding we spend more on our safety efforts, and then on the other, he demands we spend less. The truth is that, while safety is not a provincial government mandate, we are doing everything we can to make our communities safer,” the Western Cape Government said.
The Western Cape Provincial Community Police Board (WCPCPB) said recently released crime statistics highlighted the stark reality of communities in the province, which required police to be proactive in their approach.
WCPCPB spokesperson Justin Kumlehn said: “The most troubling revelation is the over 20% increase in murders, a stark reminder of the harsh realities our communities face daily...
The rise in attempted murders, assaults with intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH), and aggravated robbery further heightens our concern. This is a crisis that demands immediate and sustained attention from all sectors of society.”
Cape Times