Crime stats | CT communities living in fear despite drop in murder rate

CAPE TOWN - The murder rate in the Western Cape has seen a drop of 5.5 percent, but, that's not easing the worries of Cape Town residents.

They say they're still gripped by fear as they live among warring gangs.

READ: Drop in murder rate, sexual offences cases

During the first quarter of the 2022/23 financial year, 994 murders were recorded in the Western Cape.

Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, Reagan Allen, says there were less murder cases reported to police during the first quarter of 2023/24.

Despite a decline in the provincial murder rate, Allen says gang-related murders remain a major concern.

Western Cape Community Policing Forum Chairperson, Francina Lukas, echoes residents’ sentiments.

"The murder rate for us as it is, it’s totally unacceptable although we welcome the drop, but the reality is too many people still get murdered, too many women, too many children still get killed on a daily basis,” Lukas said.

READ: Crime stats | Slight declines attributed to Operation Shanela

Manenberg CPF spokesperson Pedro Visagie says that the murder rate in this precinct has increased significantly due to gang-related violence.

Despite a further decline in the province’s murder rate, fear-filled community members say much more work needs to be done to win the battle against criminality.

* eNCA's Kevin Brandt reports.