OUDTSHOORN NEWS - The Garden Route District, which includes George, Knysna, Bitou, Oudtshoorn, Mossel Bay, Hessequa, and Kannaland municipalities, spans an area of 23 331m², encompassing 189 345 households and a population of 622 664 people.
The district is served by 21 police stations.
The good and the bad
There has been an overall reduction in serious crimes such as murder, sexual offences, and property-related crimes. However, some specific areas, like Thembalethu, show a concerning increase in sexual offences, especially rape. Contact-related crimes, including arson, malicious damage to property, and commercial crimes, also remain areas of concern.
A growing problem, according to Cetyana, is the rise in fraud and scams, particularly those targeting the elderly.
Many victims fall prey to social media, property- and banking-related fraud, where they are tricked into making deposits or revealing personal information. He urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity. Children are asked to educate their parents if possible.
Tackling sexual offences
Addressing the concerning rise in sexual offences, particularly rape cases in Thembalethu, Cetyana pointed to the role of late-night alcohol sales and substance abuse. He explained that shebeens in the area are allowed to operate until 02:00, leading to increased crime between midnight and 04:00 as drunk or intoxicated people are on the streets on their way home.
His strategy to counter this is adjusted deployment schedules, with officers now patrolling between 18:00 and 06:00 to cover high-risk hours. Cetyana also says the extension of liquor sale hours, especially the allowance of alcohol sales on Sundays, has influenced crime statistics. "On Monday mornings, we often deal with murder cases, especially in Thembalethu. The late-night operation of shebeens contributes to this trend."
Syndicates at work
Another concern is commercial crime in the area where syndicates are actively involved. "We have identified a recurring modus operandi, indicating an organised group operating in the area, particularly around major events like the Plett Rage.
These syndicates become active when there are large gatherings, but we have strategies in place to address this issue. It is a work in progress, but we are confident that we will gain control over the situation."
Arrests and police action
During the reporting period, police in the district made 2 154 arrests for contact crimes such as murder, attempted murder, rape, robbery, and assault. Of these arrests, 970 were for assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, while 790 were for common assault.
Additionally, 2 589 people were arrested for crimes detected through police operations. This included 1 938 arrests related to drug offences and 637 for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Liquor-related offences also featured, with 4 772 arrests. Of these, 4 542 were for public intoxication, particularly in public spaces like beaches and parks.
Cable theft, a disruptive crime
Another major challenge, according to Cetyana, was cable theft, which impacts service delivery. More than 100kg of stolen cables were recorded, including at least 50kg of Eskom copper cables and 30kg of Telkom copper cables. Cetyana emphasised the importance of community vigilance and urged residents to report suspicious activity.
‘Ons bring jou die nuutste Tuinroete, Hessequa, Karoo nuus’
