Limpopo crime stats show decline trends | Review

POLOKWANE – The Limpopo Provincial Crime Statistics for the second and third quarters of the 2024/2025 financial year were officially released on March 3 following the national crime statistics briefing by the Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on February 21.

Presenting the statistics, provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, highlighted a decline in most crime categories, attributing the improvement to targeted high-density operations in hotspot areas and awareness campaigns in crime-ridden communities.

She also credited the enlistment of 553 police constables, who reinforced various police units, improving visibility and crime prevention efforts.

Arrests and crime trends

• Total arrests: 30,063 suspects in the 2nd quarter (July – September 2024) and 28,946 in the 3rd quarter (October – December 2024).
• Overall crime: Decreased by 3.1%.
• Property crime: Down by 0.5%.
• Other serious crimes: Declined by 6.8%.
• Murder: Increased by 2.5% in the 2nd quarter but saw a 29.5% decrease in the 3rd quarter.
• Attempted murder: Declined by 13.2% in the 2nd quarter and slightly by 0.1% in the 3rd quarter.
• Rape cases: Dropped by 7.3% in the 2nd quarter and 2.7% in the 3rd quarter.
• Sexual assault: Increased by 7.3% in the 2nd quarter but declined by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter.
• Gender-based violence: Courts handed down a total of 1 170 years of imprisonment and 47 life sentences to offenders.

Despite these improvements, police stations in Thohoyandou, Mankweng, Seshego, and Maake remain on the watchlist due to persistent crime challenges.

Robbery and property crimes

• Non-residential robbery: Decreased by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter and 7.6% in the 3rd quarter.
• Common robbery: Declined by 6% in the 2nd quarter and 4.8% in the 3rd quarter.

House and commercial robberies remain a concern, prompting calls for greater community involvement.

Over 3 400 drug-related arrests were made across the two quarters.

Hadebe emphasised that the province’s crime-fighting strategies are making a significant impact and urges residents to strengthen their partnership with the police by reporting criminal activities.

MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Violet Mathye, commended SAPS for their dedication to crime reduction but noted that “any death through murder is one too many.”

She also highlighted concerns over emerging crime trends, particularly extortion by taxi patrollers who allegedly force motorists to pay a fee when caught loading passengers.

Mathye praised the relative calm in the taxi industry, attributing it to constructive dialogue facilitated by the departmental taxi unit and SANTACO, which has helped prevent conflicts.