GEORGE NEWS - The Garden Route District's police commissioner, Major General Phumzile Cetyana, hosted an event on Monday 12 January to present the latest crime statistics of the district's contribution to the provincial and national crime figures for the second quarter of the 2025/26 financial year.
The statistics covered all 21 police stations across the district and included data for July, August and September.
The report showed a decrease in most contact crimes, including murder, sexual assault, common assault, common robbery and robbery with aggravating circumstances. However, increases were noted in attempted murder and assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
Arson-related cases also rose by 10 counts, while high-priority aggravated robberies, known as trio crimes, including carjacking, house robbery and business robbery, increased by 11 counts.
George recorded the highest incidence of theft from motor vehicles, while Thembalethu recorded increases in attempted murder, assault with grievous bodily harm and business robbery.
During this period, the police made
1 965 arrests for contact crimes, 376 for property-related crimes, 19 for arson, 289 for malicious damage to property, and 789 for other serious crimes such as fraud, theft and shoplifting.
Arrests resulting from police action, including drug-related crimes, driving under the influence and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, totalled 3 219.
The police also confiscated 16 057L of liquor, 483kg of copper and aluminum cables, 14.7kg of cannabis, 16 631 Mandrax tablets and 2.26kg of crystal meth.
Causal factors identified included arguments, misunderstandings, provocation, revenge, intervention in disputes, robbery, rape, financial gain, alcohol and drug abuse, and the inability to resolve conflict.
Cetyana expressed his satisfaction with the results, but stressed the need to reduce murders and attempted murders, stating that even one life lost is one too many.
He acknowledged the role of collaboration between the Garden Route District Police, the security cluster agencies, CPFs, farm and neighbourhood watches, the Community in Blue, private security and district and local municipalities in achieving these results.
The Garden Route District comprises seven municipal areas: Kannaland, Hessequa, Oudtshoorn, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Bitou.
It has 21 police stations, including three urban stations in Mossel Bay, Conville and Thembalethu, and 18 mixed urban-rural stations. The district covers 23 331km² with a population of 674 960 and 190 263 households.
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