North West residents are increasingly falling victim to violent crime. The DA in North West is dismayed at the Fourth Quarter Crime Statistics 2022/23 released by the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, yesterday.
Despite the commitment of many dedicated police officers who put their lives at risk every day in defence of North West residents, the SAPS in North West is sadly losing the fight against crime.
People in North West do not feel safe in their homes or places of work – because they are not safe.
Murder increased by 15.2% from the previous quarter, recording the violent deaths of 269 persons over the three-month period under review. That is 269 families who have lost a loved one to violent crime.
Motorists who must already navigate pothole-ridden death-trap roads to avoid accidents are now increasingly being targeted by hijackers. Car hijacking is up by 23% recording 150 cases in the Fourth Quarter.
Armed robbery is up by 18.4% and sexual assault cases increased by 18.4%.
Stock theft is up by 10.5% recording 716 cases robbing commercial, communal and subsistence farmers of their livestock.
These crime statistics show that where governance has failed, service delivery has collapsed and unemployment skyrockets, the criminal onslaught against millions of law-abiding citizens in North West will continue to rise.
If we are to win the fight against crime in North West, we have to resource and train the SAPS adequately and at the same time we have to support community policing forums and neighbourhood watches. We have to improve governance, service delivery and create employment for the more than 1 million people in North West who want to work but cannot find a job.
Quite frankly, these simple interventions will never be implemented while the ANC is in government. Only the DA has the policies and the political will to ensure the safety and prosperity of North West residents. Where we govern, people feel safer because they are safer.