Crime statistics released by the Western Cape Police Commissioner, Major General Thembisile Patekile, recently indicate Grabouw is the station with the highest number of murders, attempted murders, contact-related crimes and arson in the Overberg district.
Patekile released the province’s crime statistics for the third quarter – October to December 2022 – last week. The number of murders across the province has increased by 13,4% from 1 056 murders during the period October-December 2021 to 1 198 during the same period last year (2022). In the Overberg, however, murders declined by 14,9% from 47 in the period October-December 2021 to 40 murders in the same period during 2022.
Grabouw was the only station in the Overberg to have been included in the list of Top 30 stations in the province with the highest murder rate. Grabouw’s murder rate, however, dropped from 20 murders between October to December 2021 to 18 murders within the same period in 2022.
One of the most shocking murders to have rocked not only Grabouw but also the rest of the Overberg last year, was that of two brothers, aged 3 and 5, who died after their mother had allegedly set the shack they were sleeping in alight at Waterworks informal settlement in Grabouw. The 35-year-old woman was arrested and charged with murder.Top 30 list
Attempted murders in the Overberg during the mentioned periods increased by 11,6% from 86 murders to 96. The only area within the province to record a decrease in this crime category was the Central Karoo where the number of attempted murders declined by 35,7%.
The Top 30 stations with the highest attempted murder rate in the Western Cape include both Hermanus in 30th position and Grabouw in 24th position.
The number of attempted murders recorded in Grabouw rose from five to 13, while in Hermanus it increased by only three cases from eight murders from October to December 2021 to 11 murders in the same period in 2022. The number of cases of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm declined from 493 to 435.
Despite various efforts and campaigns to combat gender-based violence and sexual crimes, the number of sexual offences increased by 11,6% from 86 cases between October and December 2021 to 96 cases. Rape cases escalated from 57 in 2021 to 70 cases in the same period in 2022.
This translates to a 22,8% increase while sexual assault cases dropped drastically by 31,8%Robberies
None of the stations in the Overberg were included in the Top 30 list of stations with the highest number of cases of robbery with aggravating circumstances. There was an increase of only 10 cases in the Overberg.
With regard to robberies at residential premises, Hermanus was 15th on the list of Top 30 stations while Grabouw was in 29th place.
Robberies at non-residential premises increased from 18 cases between October and December 2021 to 24 cases in 2022.
Hermanus recorded the highest number of burglaries at residential premises (108) in the district and ended 13th on the province’s Top 30 list while Grabouw ended in 25th place with 82 cases.
The Western Cape’s Top 30 list of stations with the highest number of burglaries at non-residential premises contained three Overberg stations: Grabouw in 17th position with an increase of five cases from 26 to 31, Bredasdorp in 27th position with 23 cases and Villiersdorp in 29th position with 21 cases.
Stock theft
The number of stock theft cases in the Overberg stayed unchanged. Despite this, four stations were included in the list of 30 stations with the most cases. Caledon was fifth with nine cases, Swellendam seventh with six cases (a decrease of five cases), Genadendal 15th and Bredasdorp number 26 with two cases.
The Overberg, however, passed with flying colours regarding crimes detected as a result of police action. The Overberg reflected a positive increase of 52,1% in this category. It increased from 935 cases in October-December 2021 to 422 cases during the same period. Hermanus ended in 15th place on this list.
This includes the illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, drug-related crimes and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
One of the most notable fields where a positive increase was recorded is the illegal possession of firearms where the district recorded an increase of 80%.
Drug-related crimes also surged by 42,6% from 809 cases to 1 154 cases, while cases of drunken driving, also known as driving under the influence, increased by a whopping 115,7% from 115 to 248 cases.
Grabouw showed the highest increase from 14 to 79 cases, earning it the fifth spot on provincial level and 23rd nationally. This translates to an increase of 464,3 %.
Swellendam ended in 16th place, Hermanus 23rd and Caledon 27th.
