Rash of homicides a concern for Boksburg SAPS
There have been 28 homicides across the Boksburg SAPS policing precinct since January, this year.
Angelo informal settlement is leading the precinct with the highest total number of homicides reported to the police — 13 in 10 months.
Most of the confirmed killings have been stabbings or shootings, and the majority of the victims were slain over weekends, inside or nearby illegal shebeens operating in the informal settlement.
Coming in, in second place appears to be the Boksburg CBD, with a total of five murders so far.
Three murders occurred in Jerusalem informal settlement, two in Parkdene, one in Cinderella, one in the Boksburg East Industrial area, one in Comet, one in Parkrand and one in Libradene.
Boksburg SAPS spokesperson Lieut Kwendzakwakhe Ngobese said that, as the police, they are concerned about the continuing violence, particularly in the informal settlement within their policing precinct.
Ngobese has, however, stated that he is confident that the steps being taken by the police will quell this latest swell in violence.
“Police officers are now maintaining a visible and consistent presence in the most affected areas,” he said.
“Social crime prevention officers often visit affected communities and interact with community members to improve relations with residents.’
Ngobese added that people must rest assured that the police are addressing the unacceptable rate of violence in the city.
However, one police source told this journalist that the police station is struggling to keep up with the demands of the growing informal settlements that draw thousands of people from all over Southern Africa.
“We are doing everything we can, but we can only do what we can do with what we’re given,” said the source.
”The areas and the population are growing and it seems as if we’re not keeping up with the growth.
“Our resources and limited manpower are not enough to police these additional areas.
“Our patrol officers are working call to call – our detectives have caseloads greater than they’ve ever had before.”
Boksburg SAPS station commander Biggs Govender recently confirmed that he has approached the SAPS management and asked for additional resources.
This was after the station received additional areas to police, including the Jerusalem informal settlement.
The most recent murder case registered at the police station is that of an unknown Angelo man, whose body was found in the informal settlement on Saturday morning, October 24.
A female resident of the area noticed the unresponsive body lying on the ground, in a pool of blood, and called the police.
Upon arrival, a few minutes later, police officers found that the man had suffered head injuries.
Paramedics were also called and they declared the victim, thought to be in his 20s, dead at the scene.
A murder case was registered, but the circumstances surrounding the death are still unclear.-@FanieFLK
