Crime stats 2016: NC retains position as rape capital of the country 

2 September 2016

The DA is startled by the total lack of progress made towards curbing crime in the Northern Cape during 2015/2016. 

Last year’s reveal of the crime stats, like the year before, depicted a generally worsening crime situation in the province.  We sincerely hoped this would spur government on to come up with an honest and effective response to the crime situation faced by the residents of this province but frighteningly this has not been so. 

Instead, it seems to be a case of one step forward and two steps back. This as a number of crimes that previously noted minor improvements have significantly regressed. 

Most notable in this regard is the drastic increase in sexual offences, which rose by 8,9% from 1578 incidents in 2015/2015 to 1 719 incidents in 2015/2016. Given the ratio of people living in the Northern Cape, this translates into province retaining its infamous title as the rape capital of South Africa.     

Further increases in contact crimes and property related crimes are also serious cause for concern, especially the tripling of carjacking and the occurrence of new crimes, such as truck hijacking and cash in transit heists, that were previously not a problem in the more rural Northern Cape. 

It is sad indeed that, in this day and age, our people have to live like prisoners, locking themselves in their cars and in their homes, and even then not feeling or being safe.

The increase in certain crimes shows that the Northern Cape is losing the fight against crime. This is despite a significant rise by community policing organisations, such as Wanya Totsi and Saamstaan, in fighting crime on a local level. This implies that unless the SAPS manage to deal with the ‘four U’s’ of being chronically under-resourced, under-trained, under-equipped and under-staffed, SAPS’s ability to make meaningful inroads in reducing crime by forming partnerships with the private sector, will have little to no impact.

Much more needs to be done to fight crime in this province and we need strong and urgent action. 

We call on provincial government to face the facts and not to shy away from the harsh reality of crime in this province, as has been the trend in previous years. Crime can be beaten but it requires fervent political will and resourceful leadership to relinquish our people from the daily fear of becoming the next victim.

Issued by Melinda Hattingh, DA Northern Cape Provincial Spokesperson of Transport, Safety & Liaison, 2 September 2016