Burglaries lead Makhanda, Port Alfred crime stats
Both Port Alfred and Makhanda feature among the top 30 areas for reported burglaries, in the most recently released crime statistics for the Eastern Cape.
Port Alfred reported 70 burglaries at residential premises from October 2023 to December 2023, ranking the town 13th, while Makhanda’s Beaufort Street station (“Grahamstown”) recorded 68, putting it at 15th-highest in the Eastern Cape. Both showed an increase over the previous quarter (19 and 12 cases, respectively).
The home burglary rate in these two towns is higher than the rates in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro areas served by Kwanobuhle, New Brighton, Humewood, Algoa Park, Bethelsdorp and Kwazekele police stations.
The top five areas for home burglaries in the Eastern Cape during the recorded period were those served by the police stations at Cambridge, in East London (200 and third-highest in SA), Walmer in Gqeberha, Mthatha, East London (central) and Nelson Mandela Bay metro’s Kabega Park (109).
With 28 burglaries reported at nonresidential premises, Grahamstown Police Station recorded the 12th highest number in the Eastern Cape; Port Alfred (21) is 20th in the province.
Police stations in East London (central), Gqeberha’s Mount Road and Humewood recorded the province’s top three highest figures or this crime.
Grahamstown and Port Alfred police stations feature again among the top 30 stations in the Eastern Cape for theft out of or from motor vehicle.
Grahamstown ranked 13th (34 cases reported) and Port Alfred 18th (30 cases reported).
The worst places to leave valuables in or on your vehicle that could be stolen during this period were Humewood (258), East London and the area served by Mount Road police station in Gqeberha.
Joza, in Makhanda, recorded three kidnappings during this period.
SUMMARY OF THE EASTERN CAPE CRIME SITUATION FOR THE 3RD QUARTER 2023/2024
Summarising the crime situation in the Eastern Cape for the third quarter 2023/2024, Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene said: “During this quarter, we have managed to decrease 10 out of 17 of the community reported serious crimes, becoming the second best province with Northern Cape just edging ahead.
“This clearly indicates that we are on the right track in terms of focusing on our hot spot areas.”
Mene was speaking in Mthatha at the end of February during the official release of the crime statistics for October to December 2023 by MEC For transport and community safety xolile nqatha and saps senior management.
The province has shown a decrease of 2.7% on murder cases.
Mthatha reported the most cases of murder in the province.
Mene said the success of highdensity operations conducted throughout the province had contributed to a decrease in the following contact crimes:
Attempted murder decreased by 9.8%;
Common assault decreased by 2.8%; Rape decreased by 0.2%; Sexual assault decreased by 3.5%. However, contact crimes in general had increased by 1.3%,
Some crime categories showednotable increases:
Assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm increased by 2%; Sexual offences increased by 0.1% Common robbery also increased. Property crimes decreased by 5.4% , and most crimes under this category showed a decrease, with the exception of theft out of motor vehicles, which increased by 0.5%.