PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - While the rest of South Africa is reeling after the latest crime statistics revealed soaring murder and rape numbers, violent crimes in Knysna and Bitou have decreased.
Police Minister Bheki Cele on Friday 17 February released the crime statistics for the third quarter of 2022 which showed an increase in murder, rape and other violent crimes.
Between October and December last year 7 555 murders were reported. This equates to 82 murders every day and an increase on the same period in the previous year of 74 per day.
In Knysna and Bitou the picture was somewhat different with the murder numbers down across the board.
In Knysna it was down 50% - from two reported incidents over the same period in 2021 to only one in 2022. In Plettenberg Bay the murder rate decreased by 66,7% from six reported murders in 2021 to only two, and in Kwanokuthula the statistics showed no change with only one reported incident in both 2021 and 2022.
In terms of sexual offences, the overall numbers showed a decrease in both areas, but a closer look at rape revealed that Knysna saw an increase. Overall sexual crimes were down by 5,6% in Knysna - from 36 reported incidents to 34 - while Plettenberg Bay saw a decrease of 16,7% - from 12 to 10 reported incidents. In Kwanokuthula the statistics were the same with eight incidents each in 2021 and 2022.
Rape in Knysna however increased over the comparative period by 3,7% - from 27 incidents to 28. The same crime in Plettenberg Bay was down by 28,6% - from seven incidents to five - and down 12,5% in Kwanokuthula - from eight to seven.
Other violent crimes including assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, common assault, common robbery and robbery with aggravated circumstances also increased in Knysna, while only assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm increased in Kwanokuthula and Plettenberg Bay.
Property-related and other serious crimes in Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Kwanokuthula however decreased.
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