| Safety and security is an important
consideration for most people. An increase in the rate and incidence of crime in South
Africa has made safety and security a major issue for most residents in the country. Like
other metropolitan areas in South Africa, the CMA is also preoccupied with combating the
increase in crime and securing the safety of its inhabitants. Violent crime associated
with gangsterism and drugs is on the increase, as is theft, robbery and burglary often
with aggravating circumstances that lead to death or serious injury (CIMC, 1998). |
| Contents of CONTEXTUAL INFO on Safety and
Security: |
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| Level of crime |
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| Most of the information relating to crime is provided for the Western Cape
Province. However, given that approximately 70% of the population of the Western Cape
Province live in the CMA, these statistics indicate similar trends in the CMA. Reported
crime in the Western Cape Province decreased by 4.6% per 100 000 of the population between
1995 to 1996, stabilising in the period 1996 and 1997. The national crime statistics show
a similar trend (CIMC, 1998a). The 1998 annual report of the Crime Information and
Management Centre (CIMC) ascribe this change in crime to the decrease in less serious
crime but an increase in serious crime. There has however been a shift in the dominant
type of crimes committed in the Western Cape Province, from violent crime to
property-related crime. Of particular concern is the increase in the number of car
hijackings and associated crime in the Western Cape Province (CIMC, 1998a). |
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The South African Police Services (SAPS) has
divided the CMA into two areas, the Western and Eastern Metropoles. The Western Metropole
includes the Metropolitan Local Council Areas of South Peninsula, and the City of Cape Town.
The Eastern Metropole includes Blaauwberg, City of Tygerberg, Oostenberg and Helderberg (see Governance). Crime occurring in these metropoles is categorised by the
SAPS into five main categories, namely:
- Violent crime (murder, attempted murder and
robbery with aggravating circumstances)
- Property related crime (all forms of burglary and
theft, including stock theft and theft from vehicles)
- Social Fabric crimes (rape, assault causing
grievous bodily harm (GBH), and common assault)
- Vehicle theft (e.g. car-jacking)
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| Figure
1 |
| Crime ratios in the
Cape Metropolitan Area (Source: CIMC, 1998a) |
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| All statistics presented in the figures
below are based on crime figures for January to December 1997 (CIMC, 1998a). The scales of
these figures vary in response to the numbers of crimes committed in each category. |
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| Violent crime |
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| Violent crime accounts for
about 5% of the total crime in the CMA, and on average is higher in the Western Metropole
than in the Eastern Metropole. Figure 2 shows an increase in the
incidence of violent crimes in the CMA in during 1994 after which numbers declined. Recent
trends do however indicate a slight increase. |
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| Figure
2 |
| Violent crime in the
Cape Metropolitan Area (Source: CIMC, 1998a) |
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| Drug related crimes |
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| Drug related crimes constitute
3% of the total crime in the CMA. The incidence of drug related crimes dropped
significantly from 1994 to 1996, but has since begun to increase. The Western Metropole
display higher numbers of these crimes than the Eastern Metropole. |
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| Figure
3 |
Drug
related crime in the Cape Metropolitan Area (Source: CIMC, 1998a) |
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| Property related crimes |
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| Property related crimes have
the highest incidence in the CMA, taking up approximately 63% of the total crime figures
for the metropolis. The majority of property related crimes occur in the Eastern
Metropole. These crimes are usually carried out by petty criminals, such as residential
burglaries and other robberies. |
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| Figure
4 |
Property
related crime in the Cape Metropolitan Area (Source: CIMC, 1998a) |
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| Social Fabric crimes |
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| Social fabric crimes are the
next highest crime category in the CMA (21%). These are crimes that are considered by the
SAPS to be related to the socio-economic conditions of offenders. For instance, assault,
particularly domestic abuse, is often the result of alcohol abuse (CIMC, 1998). There is
little difference in the incidence of social fabric crimes between the Eastern and Western
Metropole. There has however been a decrease in the number of cases in the Western
Metropole and an increase in the Eastern Metropole. The stabilisation and decline of these
crimes can be ascribed to social upliftment and improved quality of life of some of the
urban poor. |
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| Figure
5 |
Social
fabric crimes in the Cape Metropolitan Area (Source: CIMC, 1998a) |
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| Vehicle theft |
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| Vehicle theft is the next
highest crime category after property related crime in the CMA, accounting for
approximately 7% of the total crime figures. On average the Eastern Metropole has
experienced much higher incidences of this crime than the Western Metropole. Since 1996
there has been a sharp rise in the incidences vehicle theft in the Eastern Metropole. The
Western Metropole has not experienced a similar sharp increase. |
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| Figure
6 |
Vehicle
theft in the Cape Metropolitan Area (Source: CIMC, 1998a) |
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