SA's crime flashpoints

Kwazulu-Natal, Gauteng and Eastern Cape are still the most dangerous places in which to live.

National crime statistics released yesterday showed that more than 9900 murders were reported in these provinces in one year, 270 more than in the previous year.

KwaZulu-Natal had the highest murder rate, 3629 killings, as against last year's 3422.

The province also has the country's highest number of sex crimes, 12405, compared with last year's 12288.

In Eastern Cape, the number of murder cases rose from 3278 to 3344. Sex crimes in the province shot up from last year's 9239 to 9567.

Gauteng murders decreased from 3012 to 2997, but the province still has the third-highest murder rate.

Sex crimes in Gauteng decreased from 12419 to 12288, but it still has the second-highest sex crime rate.

Gauteng is the most dangerous province for drivers, with 4952 car hijackings.

According to the statistics, Gauteng is also the most dangerous province for homeowners, with 6607 house robberies and 68544 residential burglaries.

But Lizette Lancaster, of the Institute of Security Studies, said that, contrary to common belief, Johannesburg was not the most dangerous metro .

"Consider that between April 2011 and March 2012 the police recorded more murders in Cape Town than in Johannesburg and Pretoria combined," she said.

"This means that, taking population into account, Cape Town residents are almost twice (1.8 times) more likely to be murdered than Johannesburg residents.

"But this information is potentially misleading because the likelihood of being a victim of crime depends in large part on race, gender, age, economic profile and whereabouts," Lancaster said.

"For example, almost two-thirds of the Cape Town murders took place in only 10 of the 60 police precincts in the city, according to an ISS analysis of crime hotspots," she said.

For years, Mitchells Plain had the highest violence and property-crime rates in the country, Lancaster said.

"With the recent surge in gang violence, Mitchells Plain and surrounding areas clearly require in-depth multi-disciplinary intervention," she said.

"The Cape Town residential areas of Nyanga, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu and Harare are the most murderous on the peninsula, according to an analysis that takes into account population size. These areas have had abnormally high murder rates for more than a decade."

Nyanga police station recorded the highest number of murder cases - 262 killings - nationwide.

Mitchells Plain police station received the highest number of serious crime complaints, 20304.

Cape Town Central police station followed with 15858 serious crime reports.

The province has experienced an increase in drug-related crime, with 82062 registered cases cited in the latest statistics.

Western Cape community safety MEC Dan Plato yesterday said the incidence of 22 of the 28 crime categories in the newly released statistics had increased dramatically.

This, he said, was "totally unacceptable".

There was a 12.2% increase in murders, 40.9% in attempted murders and 114.3% in cash-in-transit robberies.

"These statistics are a reflection of the South African Police Service's performance in combating crime, and protecting and securing the inhabitants of our province and country. The increases in violent crime are cause for concern.

"That is why the Western Cape cabinet will be asking provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Arno Lamoer and his top brass to appear before it.

"[They must] explain why they have failed to arrest crime in Western Cape and what they are going to do to remedy the situation.

"The people of this province - deserve these answers."

Police officers will also be grilled on the most problematic areas of their work.