DA wants SAPS to be offered more resources
POLOKWANE
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo will submit detailed questions for written response on all SAPS resources to the MEC for Community Safety, Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya.
This follows the release of the latest crime statistics.
“We are concerned that Limpopo is the only province which showed an increase in crime for the period of 1 October 2021 to 31 December 2021.
“According to the crime statistics for the Third Quarter of 2021, as released by Minister Bheki Cele on 18 November 2021, overall crime in Limpopo was on the increase while the national average indicated a decline in crime of 2.5 percentage points.
“We do take note of the decrease in sexual offences by 7.6 percentage points during the period under review, but are concerned about the sharp increases in murder which spiked with 22.4 percentage points and attempted murder which showed an increase of 38.2 percentage points,” said DA’ spokesperson on Community Safety Katlego Phala
Robberies at non-residential premises and of cash in transit heists increased by 21.6 and 25 percentage points respectively.
She said a major concern is the downward trend of crimes detected as a result of police action.
She indicated that the SAPS in Limpopo made only 3 428 arrests through police action in the quarter under review – 4 192 arrests less than in the same period last year.
Phala added, “During an oversight to Dzumeri satellite police station last week we found that the station has not a single vehicle at its disposal. The Dzumeri satellite station must combat and prevent crime in 28 villages over vast distances without a vehicle.”
According to the DA, this is not an isolated case; as the rural police stations are mostly under resourced and under capacitated.
“Without increased resources, the SAPS in Limpopo cannot expect a turnaround in the crime statistics and our communities will remain unsafe. During the Third Quarter, 7 people were either attempted to be murdered or murdered in Limpopo daily; the highest during the last five years.
“Most murders occur in public spaces. With increased police visibility and police action, we are confident that murders will decrease. We call on Lerule-Ramakhanya to take ownership of her department to ensure that our communities are safe.”
