Although the murder rate in KwaZulu-Natal has dropped according to the recent crime statistics, authorities in the province are still concerned about the murder incidents often recorded, including mass murders.
IOL reported earlier that KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli made a formal presentation detailing the surging crime rate in the province for the period July to September 2024 compared to July to September 2023.
Durban Central, Phoenix, Verulam and Chatsworth were among the areas with the highest number of serious cases in KZN, with 17 communities being in the national top 30 stations for the highest crime rates.
Among those were contact crimes, which totalled 416 cases in the second quarter of the year.
- Attempted murder increased by 66 cases (3.9%)
- Assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm rose by 534 cases (7.5%).
- Common Assaults went up by 470 cases (7.1%).
- Murder decreased by 175 cases (-10.9%)
- Total sexual offences dropped by 52 cases (-2.0%).
- Robbery aggravating, fell by 314 cases (-4.9%).
- A total of 13,173 arrests were executed for Contact Crimes during the mentioned period.
- A total of 1,428 cases of murder incidents were registered in the second quarter, with 558 arrests.
On Wednesday morning, speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Ntuli said there was a deeply worrying trend of accusations of witchcraft sparking many of the murders in the province.
“At KwaHlokohloko where seven members of a family were killed, including a five-year-old boy, when you follow, you find that there are some elements of believing that someone has done something wrong to another branch of the family," said Ntuli.
He also highlighted the case of Hammarsdale where an assailant shot four women who are members of a family.
“He was saying he believed they are using some witchcraft to destroy him. They are typical cases in the province of KwaZulu-Natal wherein there is a belief that someone has done wrong to someone, for them not to be successful. They then decide to kill one another," said Ntuli.
“For those cases, I do not believe they have genuine sangomas who are able to tell the truth about the reasons for the other’s situation."
He added that government is working on creating ongoing dialogue around the causes of the murders, also analysing the beliefs driving them.
IOL