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- Gauteng police commissioner Elias Mawela painted a grim picture of crime in the province.
- He said residents were violent towards each other.
- Gauteng's crime statistics for 1 October to 31 December 2022 also indicated an increase in the number of women and children killed.
Gauteng police commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela, called on the province's residents to find "better ways" of resolving misunderstandings and conflict when he released the crime statistics for the period 1 October to 31 December 2022.
Mawela painted a grim picture of violent crime in the province when he released the crime statistics for the last quarter of 2022 on Tuesday.
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"When we analyse our crime statistics, at times, we need to look at where we get the volume and conclude that the volume of crime comes from assault [with intent to cause] grievous bodily harm and common assault. Again, we have seen an increase in theft in general. If the people of Gauteng can stop beating each other, surely Gauteng will be a better place," Mawela said.
"People beat each other up. Murder and attempted murder cases come from people who beat each other half dead, and some ultimately die. This is because we don't have better ways of resolving our misunderstandings and conflicts. Therefore, I am calling on Gauteng residents to resolve conflict," he added.
Mawela said 278 women were killed during the last quarter of 2022, an increase of 89 compared to the same period in 2021. According to Mawela, 44 children were murdered.
READ | Assault makes up half of Gauteng's reported contact crimes, police boss reveals
A total of 1 721 people were murdered in the province during the quarter, which was an increase of 151 compared to the previous year.
The murder weapons included firearms, knives and other sharp instruments, stones, rocks, bricks and blunt objects.
Mawela said:
He added that most women and children were killed by people known to them.
"That is sad. Some women tend to have trust in their attackers before being killed. They were killed in private and public spaces. Last year, six women believed to be sex workers were killed at a factory in Johannesburg. The alleged perpetrator gained their trust before murdering them.
"It was so difficult for us to anticipate that the young fellow could have killed them in such a manner. This clearly showed that the victims trusted and believed him, and he allegedly killed them ultimately," he added.
READ | Gauteng crime stats: Murder, kidnapping and hijacking on the rise
Sifiso Mkwanazi was charged with murder after the bodies were found at his father's workshop in October 2022.
"We need to be honest with each other and talk about GBV (gender-based violence). Women should refrain from repeatedly forgiving their perpetrators, thinking they will change.
"Some forgive people who end up killing them. Women should be bold enough to tell men who abuse them that it ends when it starts and report them to the police," Mawela added. "We want 100% GBV crime reporting and zero incidents of criminality against women and children."
He said the battle against illegal firearms "was still on".
"Our recovery of firearms is very high. We are worried about the proliferation of weapons. This doesn't mean that only illegal firearms are used to commit crime. Licensed firearms are also being used in the wrong way. I am pleased with what our officers are doing to recover firearms from the wrong hands.
"Our marching orders are simple: Our officers are out there looking for all firearms in the wrong hands," Mawela said.
