According to Lesufi, the Rabasotho Police Station recorded 72 murder cases in the first three quarters of the 2024/25 financial year.
Residents of Rabasotho in Tembisa continue to live in fear amid a surge in serious crimes as Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi is failing to deliver on his promise to combat it, the DA says.
Despite high numbers of reported cases, conviction rates remain shockingly low – raising questions about the effectiveness of the province’s crime-fighting strategies.
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72 murder cases, zero convictions
According to Lesufi’s oral response in the Gauteng provincial legislature, Rabasotho police station recorded 72 murder cases in the first three quarters of the 2024-25 financial year.
Thirty-one of these cases went to court, but there were no convictions.
The premier also revealed that 812 gender-based violence (GBV) cases were reported during the same period.
“Of these 524 proceeded to court and only five received conviction,” he said.
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Crime wardens under fire
These statistics come despite Lesufi’s claims that his Gauteng Crime Wardens (Amapanyaza) initiative is yielding positive results.
DA Gauteng MEC for social development Refiloe Nt’sekhe dismissed the premier’s optimism as disconnected from the reality on the ground.
“Lesufi boasted during his State of the Province Address that the appointment of crime wardens is already yielding positive results in the fight against crime. However, Tembisa residents are not safe from serious crime, which raises concerns about the effectiveness of these wardens,” said Nt’sekhe.
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Police resources not leading to justice
In his response, Lesufi detailed Rabasotho police station’s resources: 250 visible policing officers, 87 detectives and 48 support staff.
The station has 79 vehicles, 13 of which are currently in for repairs.
However, Nt’sekhe said these resources are not translating into real results.
“We need well-resourced, adequately trained police officers and efficient investigative work. Without that, justice continues to elude the victims of violent crime in Tembisa.”
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DA calls for urgent intervention
Nt’sekhe said the DA in Gauteng will write to Lesufi to demand urgent intervention to address the spiralling crime levels and dismal conviction rates in Rabasotho.
“A DA-led Gauteng government would ensure that police stations are adequately equipped to address crime effectively. We would also enhance cooperation among the police and prosecuting authorities to ensure that reported crimes are prosecuted,” she said.
As violent crime surges and convictions remain scarce, community trust in law enforcement and the justice system continues to deteriorate.
Nt’sekhe concluded: “This government is failing the people of Tembisa. They deserve safety, not slogans.”
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