Crime stats: WC records highest number of gang-related murders
Police minister Senzo Mchunu briefed the media in Pretoria on Friday, breaking down the third quarterly crime stats.
Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu at a media briefing for the April-June 2024 quarterly crime statistics on 30 August 2024. Picture: GCIS
JOHANNESBURG -The Western Cape recorded the highest number of gang-related murders between October and December last year.
Close to 270 people were killed in just three months.
Police minister Senzo Mchunu briefed the media in Pretoria on Friday, breaking down the third quarterly crime stats.
Gang-related murders in the Western Cape have reached record highs, with 263 people murdered between October and December last year in the province.
Mchunu revealed this during the release of the third quarterly crime stats.
"This is completely unacceptable and it must change. A large number of these murders, collectively amounting to a figure of 135 occurred in Bishop Lavis, Mitchells Plain, Kleinvlei, Delft and Elsies River."
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He said they have to revise their approach to gang violence.
"The issue of gang violence requires a rethink in approach, because this is not only a historic matter but is also repetitive in nature; there is no point in us discussing one and the same thing with no change."
Police management will convene next week to discuss various issues pertaining to crime in the country, including gang violence.