The latest crime statistics released by Limpopo police paint a bleak picture for Thohoyandou with high numbers of rape and car hijacking cases.
Police say 69 rape cases were reported at the Thohoyandou police station between July and September this year.
A total number of 843 rape cases were reported in the whole province in the same period.
Provincial Police Commissioner Thembi Hadebe says, “We have Thohoyandou coming number three in the country which is a worrying factor for us and Mankweng is also featuring and there’s a lot that we need to do, we need to deal with those perpetrators. With Thohoyandou being our problem, there’s a programme that we have put in place, we have compressed our gender-based violence programme and we are currently trying to audit all the cases where the suspects are particularly known,” says Hadebe.
Thohoyandou records one of the highest rape cases in SA between July to September:
Cele disturbed by SA crime rates
Last month, Police Minister Bheki Cele said it is a disgrace and deeply disturbing that almost 10 000 people were brutalised by crime in a space of three months.
Cele was reacting to statistics that show an increase of 4.7% in sexual offences cases.
The Police Minister presented crime statistics for the second quarter period from the first of July to the 30 September.
Murder increased by 20.7% and assault by 2.1%. There was a decrease in aggravated robbery.
Cele says there were 2 000 kidnappings reported during the period under review. He says the increase in sexual offences cases is of serious concern.
Police Minister Bheki Cele on SA crime statistics:
INFOGRAPHIC: How to report a rape case
Victims of sexual assault are urged to report the abuse within 72 hours in order to receive medication that prevents the infection of HIV/AIDS. Some victims, under current lockdown, might find it hard to report abuse.
Below are some steps that one can take after a sexual assault:
-Additional reporting by SABC News
