This is the safest province in South Africa

According to the latest crime statistics, which were shared by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on August 30th, Limpopo has been named the safest province in South Africa.

SAPS in Limpopo is proud of their progress in reducing crime in the province, bringing the murder rate down to 3.3% per 100,000 people.

But the good news for the province doesn’t stop there.

No serious cash-in-transit heists were reported in the second quarter of 2024 and thanks to an anti-corruption operation along the N1 highway in September, 11 traffic officers were arrested for corruption.

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According to police spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba, Limpopo has also seen a 3.8% reduction in rape cases and a 6% drop in sexual offences.

Another big feat for the province is that crimes detected through police interventions have risen by 9.8%. These crimes were mostly related to illegal possession of firearms, drug-related offences, and driving under the influence.

Law enforcement managed to bring down a drug lad in Groblersdal, confiscating drugs valued at R2-billion.

Over 6,800 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested, with 117 facing serious charges for murder, 83 for attempted murder, 158 for rape, and 1,429 for drug-related offences.

Police also managed to prevent vehicles worth millions from being smuggled out of the country.

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The recent enforcement measures have led to the recovery of 248 firearms and over 1,700 rounds of ammunition, reflecting a strong effort to reduce illegal weapons circulation. In addition, 604 individuals were arrested for malicious damage to property, alongside 21 arrests for stock theft. Other notable figures include 91 arrests for fraud and 514 for various theft-related crimes.

Limpopo’s Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences unit also reported significant success, securing 364 years’ worth of prison sentences and seven life sentences between April 1 and June 30. 

These results highlight ongoing efforts to combat serious crimes, particularly those affecting vulnerable groups.

Further notable arrests were made during the period, including 43 business robbers, 35 house robbers, five hijackers, and 21 stock theft suspects. 

The apprehension of 91 fraudsters also underlines the continued focus on upholding law and order across multiple sectors.