The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga calls on this provincial government to devise a strategy to deal with the serious crimes, like murder, as current statistics shows that over 300-people have been murdered in the province in the first quarter of 2024/2025 financial year.
The recently released First Quarter Crime Statistics from the South African Police Services (SAPS) revealed that 332 people were murdered in Mpumalanga between April and June 2024. This means that an average of 3-people are murdered everyday in Mpumalanga. Firearms and knifes have been identified as weapons used mostly in the murders.
According to the report, the ratio of murder in the province increased from 3 per 100 000 people in 2020 – to 6 per 100 000 people in 2024. The report also revealed that vigilantism, misunderstanding, arguments and road rage were the main reasons for the murders.
The increasing numbers are disappointing and worrying. This shows that law enforcement agencies in Mpumalanga need to double down and intensify all their efforts to effectively address violent crimes. The increase in murders is also proof that the current national policing model is failing residents, hence the DA is advocating for a decentralised police force.
At the moment the national government persists in advocating for a centralised national police force, whereas the DA advocates for a decentralised, locally accountable police force. This approach will bring law enforcement closer to communities, enabling tailored policing strategies to address their unique challenges.
The DA also calls for effective training for police officials and a better resourcing of police stations in Mpumalanga following the release of the current first quarter crime statistics report which paints a province that is ridden with crime.