MBOMBELA – Mpumalanga province has recorded a notable decrease in crime rates, with 17 categories of serious reported crimes dropping by 10% in the fourth quarter of the 2024/2025 period.
This was announced during a media briefing on the province’s crime statistics for the fourth quarter (January to March) of the 2024/25 financial year, held at the SAPS’ provincial headquarters on Friday, May 30.
Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Jackie Macie, praised the province’s police force for their efforts, highlighting a significant reduction in murder cases (26%) and attempted murder cases (28.1%).
“The province is doing great in terms of fighting crime nationally, as we are number one in the fourth quarter of the 2024/2025 period in terms of crime reduction,” Macie said. “The decrease in crime rates is a positive indicator that our efforts are yielding results.” He emphasised the importance of continued collaboration between the police and the community to address these challenges.
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However, despite the overall decline in crime rates, a concerning spike in sexual offences has marred the progress, with a 14.2% increase. According to the acting police commissioner, Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi, sexual offenses rose from 899 to 1,027 cases compared to the same period last year.
“We have a very serious problem in the category of sexual offenses,” Mkhwanazi said. “We need to engage men, non-governmental organisations, political organisations, and others to change our approach.”
Mkhwanazi further noted that some police stations with high numbers of rape incidents in this period include Masoyi, Calcutta, KaBhokweni, Arconhoek, Vosman, Embalenhle, and Pienaar.
While the rise in sexual offenses casts a shadow over the province’s progress, the government remains committed to bolstering policing structures and tackling systemic issues to effectively combat this pressing issue.
