Keypoints
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KZN police report overall decline in crime across districts.
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Sexual offences and assault cases remain a serious concern.
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Community partnerships are key in sustaining crime reduction.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said the province has seen a notable reduction in overall crime, especially in the eThekwini and uMgungundlovu districts.
The remarks were made during a media briefing attended by senior officers, where Mkhwanazi outlined performance targets for the 2024/2025 financial year.
Mkhwanazi emphasized that performance comparisons between the past two years informed new strategies.
He credited partnerships with communities and the private sector for patrolling neighborhoods and supplying resources.
The result, he said, was fewer cases of murder, aggravated robbery, hijackings, and business break-ins.
KZN police crime decline overshadowed by sexual offence rise
Despite progress in some areas, Mkhwanazi expressed concern over the rise in sexual offences, especially rape.
“The slight percentage increases we’ve noted demand stronger strategies and community cooperation,” he said.
He also cited increases in common assault and assault GBH, noting that alcohol plays a significant role in most of these cases.
Cash-in-transit robberies also rose slightly, posing a threat to public safety and reinforcing the need for continued vigilance and planning.
Understaffed force challenges crime response and prevention
Addressing resource constraints, Mkhwanazi said the province currently has 19,600 active officers, down from 25,000.
“We lost 893 personnel last year, including 805 functional officers,” he reported.
Causes include retirement, resignations, deaths, and dismissals for misconduct.
The KZN police commissioner highlighted the difficulty of policing a population of over 12.4 million, including undocumented immigrants, with a shrinking workforce.
However, he reaffirmed the police’s commitment to intensify efforts against gender-based violence and improve overall safety across the province.
