WC top cop praises public for helping police bring down murder figures
Crime statistics for July to September show murders in the province decreased by eight percent.
Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile (right) addressed a media briefing on 26 November 2024. Picture: @SAPoliceService/X
CAPE TOWN - Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile has praised the public for helping police bring down the murder rate in the province.
Crime statistics for July to September show murders in the province decreased by eight percent.
Patekile said any drop in crime was an achievement but the aim is always to bring the numbers down significantly.
"Many stations that have shown a reduction, especially on murder. The top ten stations, we are grateful for that because it's an effort not only by police but by the communities themselves."
Patekile said there was still more to be done in certain areas.
"There are still those that we must focus on. For example, if we look at Mfuleni, where with all contact crimes they are number one but when we looked at the crimes like murders and hijackings they showed a decline."
The provincial commissioner said that officials would be visiting communities to encourage them to continue working with police.