Minister Marais welcomes drop in Western Cape homicide rate

Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has welcomed the decline in the Western Cape homicide rate in the second quarter of 2024, compared with the same period last year.

Minister Marais said, “Following worrying increases in homicides in previous months, there has been a decrease in the most recent quarter (July to September 2024). There were 1 174 homicides recorded in Quarter 2 of 2024/25. This is a decrease of 7.1% compared with the period July to September 2023. The decrease is encouraging, but I remain deeply concerned. One murder is one too many.”

“Although most of the province’s murder hotspot areas saw a receding homicide rate, for which I commend all stakeholders involved in crime prevention and combatting, I am particularly concerned about the increase in homicides in some areas, especially in Atlantis and Philippi East. We have deployed more Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers to Philippi East, and we are urgently taking steps to do the same in Atlantis. We will keep exploring ways to more effectively address crime and make our communities and residents safer,” Minister Marais concluded.

Media Enquiries: 

Jan-Jan Joubert, MLO to Minister Marais
083-3039238
Jan.Joubert@westerncape.gov.za