Crime stats: Increase in murders in the Garden Route

GEORGE NEWS - The fourth-quarter crime statistics show that 5 181 murders were recorded in South Africa between January and March.

This is an average of nearly 60 murders a day.

Although the national figures point to a decline in several major violent crime categories, certain areas remain major crime hotspots.

Nationally, murder decreased by 9.5%, with the reported cases dropping to 5 181. Reported rape cases also declined by 8.5%, with 9 782 incidents recorded during the quarter.

Among the provinces, Gauteng continued to record the highest levels of criminal activity, followed by the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

For the Garden Route District, it paints a mixed picture with increases in violent crime in Conville and Pacaltsdorp, while Thembalethu recorded improvement in several serious categories.

Across the Garden Route District, compared with the same period last year, overall contact crime decreased slightly by 2.8%, from 2 974 cases to 2 892.

However, murder increased from 30 to 40 cases, while attempted murder surged from 50 to 81 incidents. Common robbery also increased significantly across the district, rising by 19.5%.

Conville raises concern

Conville recorded some of the most concerning increases in violent crime among the George policing precincts.

Murder cases increased from two to six, while attempted murder rose sharply from one to seven cases.

Rape cases climbed from 13 to 21, and common robbery more than tripled from seven to 22 incidents, while robbery with aggravating circumstances also increased from 20 to 26 cases.

Although assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) decreased by 15.2%, overall contact crime in the area still increased by 15%. Community-reported serious crime in Conville increased by 11.7%.

George sees rise in robberies

The George Police Station’s statistics show a rise in robbery and assault-related crimes, although murder and rape figures remained stable.

Murder remained unchanged at three cases, while rape also stayed at 12 reported incidents.

However, common robbery increased from 15 to 25 cases, while common assault rose by 17.7%. Overall contact crime, such as assault, murder, rape and robbery, increased by 11.1%, from 180 to 200 cases.

There were, however, some improvements. Attempted murder dropped from three cases to none, while robbery with aggravating circumstances declined from 16 to 12 incidents.

Business burglaries increased sharply by 41.7%, with burglary at non-residential premises rising from 36 to 51 cases.

The statistics also show a decline in crimes detected through police action. Drug-related crimes decreased by 20%, while driving under the influence cases fell by nearly 40%.

Pacaltsdorp under pressure

Pacaltsdorp experienced increases in almost every major violent crime category.

Murder increased from one to three cases, while sexual offences rose from 13 to 18. Assault GBH increased from 36 to 42 cases, and common assault climbed from 115 to 130 incidents.

Overall, contact crime rose by 16.7%, from 186 to 217 reported cases. Attempted sexual offences also increased from two to five cases.

Property-related crime in the area spiked by 29%, with residential burglaries increasing by 30%.

‘All theft not mentioned elsewhere’ also showed a significant increase of 53.1%.

The only major improvement in the precinct was a decline in malicious damage to property.

Thembalethu shows a positive shift

Thembalethu shows clear improvements in several serious violent crime categories.

Murder cases decreased from seven to five, while rape dropped significantly from 26 to 18 cases.

Assault GBH also declined sharply by 21.4%, contributing to an overall 7.5% reduction in contact crime.

Despite these improvements, common robbery increased from 11 to 19 cases, while residential robberies doubled from four to eight incidents.

Thembalethu also recorded a major increase in crimes detected through police action. Drug-related crimes rose by 51%, while overall police-detected crime increased by 38.5%.

Bigger picture

While the Garden Route District recorded an overall decrease in contact crime, the latest statistics indicate that violent crime remains a challenge in the area.

One of the clearest trends across all stations is the increase in common robbery, pointing to growing street-level and opportunistic crime across the region.

The Thembalethu Magistrate’s Court. Photo: Kristy Kolberg