This past weekend, the City’s Public Emergency Communication Centre (PECC) reported a troubling 79% increase in assault calls compared to the previous weekend. The wave of aggression was further highlighted by a near 50% rise in domestic violence reports, sparking urgent calls for enhanced safety measures from local authorities.

Over the weekend, the PECC fielded a total of 140 assault calls—up from 78 the weekend prior. From these, 41 incidents involved physical assaults while a shocking 98 cases involved the use of a weapon. Domestic violence calls similarly surged, increasing from 36 the previous weekend to 53 this past weekend. These figures raise significant concerns for community safety and well-being, particularly during periods when disposable income increases, such as after payday.

“Our enforcement departments brace themselves for payday weekends as it inevitably means an increase in violence and recklessness,” said JP Smith, Mayco member for Safety and Security. He added that the first and last weekends of the month are traditionally among the busiest for law enforcement, prompting heightened patrols, checkpoints, and roadblocks to deter such incidents.

The alarming trend also included a notable rise in motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents, with incidents increasing from 45 last weekend to 66 over the latest Friday to Sunday period. This uptick adds another layer of urgency to the already strained emergency services grappling with violent crime and road safety.

In a bid to restore order and remove dangerous weapons from circulation, law enforcement officers confiscated six firearms and arrested 12 men connected to these weapons since Friday evening alone. Smith expressed concern over the prevalence of illicit firearms, stating, “While I am pleased with the weapons we’re removing from the streets, I recognise that many more remain in the hands of criminals. The City is doing as much as it can with limited resources and we need national government to come to the party so we can stop the flood of guns being used to terrorise our neighbourhoods.”

Local law enforcement officers successfully recovered a stolen motorcycle less than 24 hours after it was reported stolen. The incident occurred on Saturday, 30 August, when officers noticed a man attempting to tamper with the motorcycle in Thornton. Upon approaching, the suspect endeavoured to conceal the bike under plastic sheets. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the motorcycle had been hijacked the previous night. The suspect was arrested and is now in custody at Pinelands SAPS.

Throughout the preceding week, law enforcement has been proactive, recording a total of 1,641 emergency incidents. Officers made 166 arrests and issued nearly 5,000 notices for various transgressions. Their Metro Police counterparts also made headway with 53 arrests and over 2,795 fines issued during routine patrols. Traffic enforcement proved especially rigorous, with 22 arrests made, including 13 for driving under the influence, and the impounding of 198 public transport vehicles.

The community is reminded that emergency incidents can be reported to the PECC via cell phone at 021 480 7700 or by dialling 107 from any landline.

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