| Beyond the numbers, unveiling the dark figures of crime | |
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| Date Published: | 2025/09/06 |
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Media Statement POLOKWANE - The South African Police Service in Limpopo under the leadership of Vhembe District Commissioner, Major General Eddie Van Der Walt and Provincial Head of Crime Registrar, Brigadier S.K Manthata presented the Provincial Crime statistics for the 4th Quarter of 2024/25 financial year at a seminar hosted by the University of Venda on 03 September 2025. In attendance were Professors and Academics of Law Studies from various Institutions that consisted of Professor W Maluleke from University of Limpopo, Professor TJ Mudau from University of Venda, Professor S.M Tshoane from Tshwane University of Technology, Profesor M Thobane University of South African and (CRIMSA President) and Profesor K.A Rakubu from Tshwane University of Techology amongst others. In addition, the students of Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law, Eyes of the Nation representatives, including the members of the community at large. Furthermore, Brigadier Manthata was supported by the National Crime Registrar office, Brigadier Medupi and his team, Provincial Head of Corporate Communication and Media Liaison Services Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba and Provincial Head of FCS Brigadier Mathebula. Brigadier Manthata made a presentation about the latest crime statistics the province has recorded in all five districts comprising of 105 police stations. The reporting period of January-March 2025 The Limpopo recorded 12.8% decrease in overall contact crime (including murder assault, robbery and rape) Murder: down 26% (242- 179 cases) Attempted murder : 11% Assault with to cause grievous bodily harm(GBH)-16% Aggravated robbery :- 20.2% Common robbery :-8.2% Carjacking: sharply reduced to just 42 cases Gender Based Violence & Sexual Offenses Rape:- 3.7% (1,079 - 1039 cases. Vhembe and Mopani saw notable decrease. In Contact Crime, Capricorn + 7.8% and Waterberg + 10.7% recorded increases. The Limpopo province still ranks 6th nationally for rape( 17.2 per 100,000.) Domestic violence remains high, 20 murders with 15 of them reported by women. 81 rapes and 09 sexual assault all reported by women. Mob justice killings accounted for 27, of the 179 murder, especially in Thohoyandou, Seshego, Lebowakgomo and Westenburg. The Family Violence Child Protection, and Sexual Offences managed to arrest 589 suspects. Eight(08) life sentence and 253 years sentences were handed down to sexual offenders. The following items seized in this quarter, 350 firearms, 80 suspected stolen/hijacked motor vehicle and drugs worth R15 million. Counterfeit goods and illicit cigarettes valued at R6.6m confiscated. Following the presentation, Professor Mudau acknowledged and praised the SAPS Crime Registrar for the crime picture presentation and also raised a concern about the manner in which police handle the victims of gender-based violence at community service centre (CSC) Major General Van Der Walt indicated that victims of gender-based violence are prioritized and confidentiality is always maintained in every police station. The victim Charter stipulates that the victim of GBV should be isolated from the public during statement taking. Various speakers raised questions, comments and reflections about the crime statistics focusing in Thohoyandou policing area. Furthermore, questions and inputs from the public were raised in terms of recruitment policies and service delivery and were positively responded to and acknowledged. Major-General Eddie Van der Walt indicated that Thohoyandou SAPS is policing more than 460 villages and highlighted that additional newly appointed Constables deployed for high-visibility policing and satellite police stations are required to reduce criminal activities in the areas. Consequently, "partnership policing with community structures, traditional leaders and faith-based organisation continue assisting the police by providing valuable information and supporting them in combating crime,” said Major General, Eddie Van Der Walt. Ends
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