Grahamstown ranks among the top four Eastern Cape cities for burglary and common assault. This is according to a new crime survey released by Statistics South Africa.
Grahamstown ranks among the top four Eastern Cape cities for burglary and common assault. This is according to a new crime survey released by Statistics South Africa.
The report was compiled looking at the most reported crimes in the Eastern Cape.
Grahamstown was ninth in terms of the amount of reported crimes overall, with a total of 5 322.
The 'City of Saints' came third with 916 reported cases of burglary in residential areas, against East London's 1047 and Port Elizabeth's 1000.
About 493 cases of common assault were reported, placing us fourth, after Mthatha (639), Bethelsdorp (553) and Gelvandale (533).
Grahamstown came second for crimen injuria cases with 121 total reported cases compared to King William's Town's 165.
We are also fifth for both sexual offences (193 reported cases compared to Mthatha's 319) and cases of attempt to inflict grievous bodily harm (650 reported cases compared to New Brighton's 684)
200 cases of shoplifting were reported, leaving Grahamstown tenth overall.
Makana avoided the top 10 for other crimes but we came ninth for malicious damage to property, kidnapping and robbery at non-residential areas.
Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Khaya Tonjeni refused to comment, saying that the statistics were not part of the province's jurisdiction.
He said they are compiled by the office of the National Minister of Police.
Meanwhile, media watchdog, Africa Check, says the improved crime statistics touted by President Jacob Zuma in his recent State of the Nation address were a case of cherry picking.
In his address to Parliament last week, Zuma said the overall crime rate had decreased by 21% since 2002.
On its website, Africa Check said, "It excludes the most recent 2012/2013 crime statistics which have shown worrying increases in a number of categories of serious and violent crime".
The organisation said Zuma’s claim deliberately selects 2002 – a period when “total crime levels peaked in South Africa” – as its benchmark.
While overall crime rates may have decreased by 21% between 2002 and 2012, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) noted that “overall levels of crime [for 2011/2012]are actually quite compar[a]ble with the levels recorded in 1994/1995”.
