Gauteng retains lead as hub for serious crime in SA - Hawks

JOHANNESBURG - The Gauteng province retains its lead as the hub for serious crime in the country.

This was revealed at a media briefing by the Hawks on Sunday, on progress made during the first quarter of the financial year 2024/2025.

Hawks head, Godfrey Lebeya said it emerged that the country’s most populous province continues to serve as a fertile ground for serious crimes.

Lebeya noted the statistics, adding that the division would continue its relentless crime-fighting strategies.

"Most of these arrests were effected in the Gauteng province, with 167 suspects arrested followed by KwaZulu-Natal province with 114, the North West province with 92, Mpumalanga province with 57 and the Eastern Cape province with 56 suspects.”

RECOVERING ILL-GOTTEN GAINS

Lebeya said his division had made significant advances in recovering ill-gotten gains and disrupting the financial incentives of criminal activities.

It came to light that a total number of 77 court orders including Preservation, Forfeiture, Restraint and Confiscation Orders were granted.

Lebeya said the recoveries were paid into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account.

“With a monetary value of R134 609 808 were granted and an amount of R16 152 423 was paid into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) in the first quarter under review.”