Lerato Mailoane
The Gauteng Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has commended the efforts of the Gauteng Police and other law enforcement agencies for significantly reducing overall crime during the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.
Committee Chairperson Bandile Masuku acknowledged the progress but noted that despite the decrease in crime, many residents still feel unsafe in their homes and communities.
"While the Committee acknowledges and commends these achievements, it remains mindful of the findings in the Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey (GPSJS) 2023/24, released by Statistics South Africa. 
"The survey reveals that many South Africans still feel that more needs to be done in the fight against crime.  This concern is valid, and the Committee shares the public sentiment that crime continues to pose a significant challenge," said Masuku.
His remarks were in response to the Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni, who highlighted that the overall crime statistics show a positive step towards safer communities across the province.
The latest statistics indicate a decrease of 4 709 cases compared to last year, representing a 4.5% reduction in overall crime. Between April and June 2024, Gauteng recorded several notable achievements, including 65 445 arrests, of which 11 688 were undocumented immigrants.
According to the provincial police, 16 of the 17 community-reported crimes saw reductions, a remarkable achievement for Gauteng.
During this period, law enforcement recovered 1 492 firearms and 1.968 kg of drugs, contributing to a safer environment.
Contact crimes, which include offences such as murder, attempted murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances, decreased by 5.4%. Additionally, arson and malicious property damage were down by 7.5%.
Overall, property-related crimes, including residential and business burglaries, vehicle theft, and stock theft, decreased by 6.7%.
The police also secured 37 life sentences and an additional 1,827 years of imprisonment during this period. This includes 26 life sentences for sexual offences, nine life sentences for murder, and significant convictions for crimes related to infrastructure damage.