- Recent SAPS statistics reveal Kraaifontein’s persistently high crime rates, with 52 murders and 40 attempted murders reported between July and September.
- LEAP officers’ withdrawal from Kraaifontein in September may be linked to decreased drug-related arrests and concerns of rising crime.
- Despite a rise in violent crimes, property crimes in Kraaifontein have decreased, with home burglaries seeing a significant drop.
Kraaifontein continues to grapple with high crime rates, as recent figures from the South African Police Service reveal a troubling trend.
Between July and September the suburb reported 52 murders and 40 attempted murders, maintaining its status as one of the most dangerous areas in the Western Cape.
According to the second quarter crime statistics, Kraaifontein ranks sixth on the provincial list for the most reported contact crimes and 16th on the national list of serious community crimes.
It follows other high-crime areas such as Delft (15th), Mfuleni (ninth), and Mitchells Plain (third), with Cape Town Central taking the top spot.
In addition to the alarming number of murders, Kraaifontein also saw a significant increase in sexual offences, with 60 reported cases marking a 27,7% rise compared to previous periods.
Assaults with intent to do grievous bodily harm (GBH) reached 101 cases, while common assaults showed a slight decrease of 253 cases.
Aggravated robberies were notably high, with 235 cases, revealing a 21% increase. This includes 19 carjackings, 25 home robberies and seven business robberies.
Property crimes down
On a more positive note, property crimes decreased by 20,9% in the same period, with home burglaries dropping significantly by 79 cases, down to 123. Business burglaries remained steady at 25 cases and 27 vehicles were stolen – 14 fewer than in the previous quarter. However, 110 car break-ins were reported, 18 more than in the first quarter.
Commercial crimes saw a slight uptick, rising by 5,5%, to 135 cases. However, crimes detected as a result of police action plummeted by 33%, with a total of 599 cases, down from 897 in the first quarter.
Drug-related arrests made up the bulk of these with 543 such arrests, while only 33 drunken drivers were apprehended.
It is suggested that this sharp decline may be linked to the City of Cape Town’s decision to withdraw Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers from Kraaifontein at the start of September.
The LEAP officers, introduced in 2020 as part of the Western Cape Safety Plan, had played a significant role in addressing crime in the region.
Their specialised training and focus on crime hot spots had helped make a dent in Kraaifontein’s crime rates over the past few years, but the community fears a surge in crime numbers in their absence.
