Crime rate still high in the Western Cape

Mluleki Mrwebi

20 September 2012

Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa says the rate of sexual offences in South Africa is still too high.

Mthethwa was announcing the latest crime statistics today he said the decrease of three-point-seven-percent in the past financial year was not nearly enough.

The crime rate remains high in the Western Cape.

 Provincial MEC of Community Safety Dan Plato said he expected to see a much larger decrease in the murder rate and it is clear that police action must be improved to deal with crime.

In the Western Cape, the murder rate is slightly down from 2 311 cases in 2010/11 to 2300 in 2011/12.

Attempted murder however has increased in the Western Cape from 2162 to 2328 in the same period. 

Plato added that drug related crimes are worrying, because they are on the increase in the Western Cape.