On Sunday morning, April 5, Police Minister Bheki Cele welcomed a general decrease in both serious and violent crimes.
He attributes the decrease to a number of factors, which includes the ban on the sale of alcohol since the start of the national lockdown on March 27.
While the 2019-2020 National Crime Statistics are still to be released, an analysis of crime during the first week of the lockdown, compared to the same period last year showed a substantial drop in certain crimes.
Cele confirmed a decrease in the following crimes:
- Murder
- Rape
- Cases of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm
- Carjackings, house robberies and business robberies.
Despite the decrease, rapists are still preying on unsuspecting victims.
This follows the arrest of two men, who allegedly raped and murdered of a 74-year-old woman, after allegedly posing as soldiers.
Police spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbele explains the brutal attack took place at the woman’s home in Sweetwaters.
Following the discovery of the woman’s body, Mbele says Provincial Organised Crime Unit detectives were assigned to the case.
The first suspect was found at his home in KwaShange, Pietermartizburg. The second suspect was tracked down to Durban’s Point area.
The two suspects are also believed to be linked to the rape of a 20-year-old woman. Both men will now be appearing in the Pietermaritzburg Magistrates Court.
In a separate incident, a 14-year-old Sowetan girl was also raped and murdered.
On Sunday, Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi announced the teenager was sent to a shop on Thursday, April 2. However, when she got home, the youngster realised she had forgotten some of the items she was supposed to buy.
After she went back to the shop, but she did not return. Her family went looking for her. Not being able to find her, they reported her missing to the police.
Her lifeless body was found on Friday, April 3, in a bush at eMndeni Extension in Soweto.
Police investigations into the matter are now in full swing.
