By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA Police Sevices (SAPS) in Gauteng have announced that crime across the province has decreased by 7.9% during the first three months of the year.
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety received a detailed briefing from the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni, on the 4th Quarter Crime Statistics for the 2024/25 Financial Year.
The briefing also focused on crime trends between January and March 2025 and provided an overview of key developments in the fight against crime in the Province.
Mthombeni’s address comes hot on the heels of the recent murder of Olorato Mongale, the mutilation and murder of 14-year-old Likhona Fose, and the gruesome discovery of an unknown woman in Braamfischerville, Soweto, on Wednesday.
“Crime statistics in Gauteng have moved in a downward trend as we made progress in the fight against crime by recording a 7.9% decrease, which translates to 8 393 counts on 17 community-reported serious crimes for the three months under review. The decrease is a positive trajectory as we take into account the provincial high population and the other various factors, Mthombeni said.”
Kidnappings increased by 15.8% between January and March, compared with the same period last year.
He indicated that the police are concerned by the number of kidnappings and other types of crimes that continue to wreak havoc in the lives of Gauteng citizens.
Mthombeni highlighted that sexual offences dropped by 2% and Gauteng police arrested 1,112 sexual offenders, presented 1,356 cases in court and secured convictions for 102 offenders, resulting in 28 life terms and an additional 900 years’ imprisonment.
Mthombeni said the reduction was due to the efforts of the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit having maintained a strong approach to this type of crime.
The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences maintains a comprehensive approach to address sexual offenses, from enforcement to education and community engagement. For the period under review, they have arrested 1,112 sexual offenders, presented 1,356 cases in court, and secured convictions for 102 offenders, resulting in 28 life terms and an additional 900 years’ imprisonment.
“The efforts undertaken extend beyond law enforcement, with 127 awareness campaigns reaching 12,300 individuals, including 4,250 adults and 8,050 children. These campaigns focus on strengthening partnerships with stakeholders and promoting the importance of reporting sexual offenses and gender-based violence, and femicide,” he said.
The crime statistics he presented showed a decrease in murder, with 1 439 cases recorded compared to 1 614 cases recorded during the same period last year.
Arguments, misunderstandings, road rage and provocation remain the highest number of incidents, with 122 cases, followed by vigilantism and mob justice with 69 cases, and taxi-related murders with 45 cases.
You’re most likely to be murdered in a public place, where 706 cases were recorded, followed by private residences of either the victim or perpetrator, with 306 cases, and liquor outlets, where 50 murders occurred.
The crime statistics also showed that there are no-go areas in Gauteng, where you’re likely to experience murder, rape, carjacking, house robbery and kidnapping.
The top 10 police stations for murder in Gauteng are Ivory Park (42 cases), Jeppe (38), Orange Farm (37), Lenasia (33), Hillbrow (32), Ennerdale (31), Eldorado Park (30), Kagiso (28), JHB Central (28), and Daveyton (26).
The top 40 stations for rape include Roodepoort (60 cases), Orange Farm (54), Alexandra (45), Diepsloot (43), Ivory Park (38), Atteridgeville (36), Temba (34), Rietgat (34), Tembisa (34), Mamelodi East (34).
Mthombeni also noted that 11 police officers were murdered in the quarter, with one member being killed on-duty and 10 off-duty.
“We are strengthening our resolve to stabilise this threat by going out to the public through the soft approach to policing by engaging the communities we serve through izimbizo, awareness campaigns and community outreach programmes we conduct with our partners. We have for the three months under review conducted 3,135 community engagements in the province.”
Meanwhile Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says the province’s current number plate format is running out of combinations, prompting the introduction of a new system designed to enhance crime-fighting efforts.
Lesufi, alongside Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, unveiled the new vehicle registration plates at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The new number plates will include several innovative features designed to enhance security and traceability.
These plates will be embedded with QR codes and a track-and-trace system for vehicle identification and registration.
Additional design elements include the South African national flag and name, as well as a tamper-evident security decal designed to curb counterfeiting.
Beyond crime prevention, the plates will also serve a broader range of administrative and economic functions.
They will support the Gauteng government in collecting revenue and enforcing vehicle roadworthiness and insurance compliance.
The data captured through the new system will also contribute to improved planning and policymaking.
Furthermore, the initiative will help manage the number plate supply chain, hold manufacturers accountable throughout the value chain, and create economic opportunities by empowering locally based small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs).