WC Shadow Crime Statistics report released

Mluleki Mrwebi
26 September 2012

The Western Cape Department of Community Safety today released the “Shadow Crime Statistics report”.

Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said the annual Crime Statistics have been criticised for being reactive and out-dated.

Plato said this is an initiative by the Western Cape government to develop integrated safety information system that considers all potential sources of safety information at their disposal.

He said the data used to compile this report was obtained from the South African Police Services crime statistics and the mortuary statistics for 2008-2012.

The report found that 87% of murder victims in the Western Cape are males between the ages of 18 and 35 years old.

Plato said the information on the report has helped to identify 10 police precincts which recorded the highest number of murders in the last year.

The stations identified were, Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Harare, Gugulethu, Kraaifontein, Delft, Mitchells Plain, Phillipi East, Bishop Lavis and Mfuleni.

The report shows that in the last 5 years,75% of murders in Hanover Park and the surrounding areas remain unpunished.

Plato said this report will be released every six months.

He added that new interventions are needed to combat crime in the Western Cape more especially drug related crimes.