The GOOD Party called on the Western Cape government and relevant authorities to urgently reevaluate the Western Cape Safety Plan, with ActionSA urging government to develop a realistic plan to combat crime and underpin the “long-overdue” Medium Term Development Plan (MTDP).

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on Friday released the crime statistics for the third quarter of 2024/25, highlighting that, the number of murders in the Western Cape stands at a staggering 3 399, with the highest number of gang-related murders, with 263 counts reported in this quarter alone.

GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron said his party demanded a comprehensive review of police strategy, guided by “transparency” and collaboration with local communities, experts, and law enforcement.

“The current strategy is failing, and it is time to adopt a more effective approach that puts the safety and well-being of the people of the Western Cape first. If the province is serious about its commitment to reducing violent crime, it must stop investing in a failing plan and start implementing real solutions that will make a difference. The people of the Western Cape deserve a safety plan that delivers results, not a costly promise that has failed to live up to expectations,” he said.

Herron pointed out that the money poured into the safety plan should be seen as a direct investment in the protection of residents, “but if this money is not leading to real, measurable improvements, then we must ask: what is the point?”

He said the increase in murder rates over the past five years is proof that this multi-billion-rand plan is not working.

“…it is a waste of valuable taxpayer money and resources if it fails to reduce crime, which is the most fundamental expectation of such an initiative,” he said.

ActionnSA said a realistic plan to combat crime must include a “clear and necessary” target of halving aggravated contact crimes by 2029, anchored by a “zero-tolerance” approach as the overarching mandate.

ActionSA MP Dereleen James said the party remains “deeply concerned” that, while aggravated contact crimes between October and December 2024 have shown a slight year-on-year decrease compared to 2023, South Africa remains “unsafe, with rampant criminality” continuing to go largely unchallenged.

Democratic Alliance (DA) Spokesperson on Police Ian Cameron said the crime statistics reflected the “horrific” daily experiences of South Africans, saying his party will continue to advocate for “common-sense policies” to keep South Africans safe.

Cameron reiterated the party’s call for expansion of community-policing partnerships to proactively address localised criminal issues, particularly in high-crime provinces the Western Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and the Eastern Cape.

He pointed out that technologically, Saps is outdated, noting that the country’s forensic labs and intelligence systems must be updated and be built for the future.

The DA also expressed concerns on recent findings by the Auditor-General, showing reporting discrepancies in crime statistics and operational targets, indicating that the party will write to the Auditor General or seek her appearance before the Police Committee on how these discrepancies can be improved.

Meanwhile, the African National Congress (ANC) said the statistics reaffirmed the need for a well-resourced and technologically advanced police force, improved crime intelligence, and enhanced forensic services.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the upcoming National Policing Summit in April, as announced by Mchunu, is a crucial step in refining policing strategies and ensuring a proactive approach to crime-fighting.

“Crime hotspots remain concentrated in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape provinces that also experience high levels of economic inequality,” she said.

The party reiterated that economic transformation, job creation, and social development are essential in addressing the root causes of crime.

Bhengu-Motsiri said the ANC noted that the improvement in this quarter’s crime stats, and said it is a testament to the targeted interventions undertaken by law enforcement, particularly through the Saps safer festive season campaign and the ongoing recruitment of police officers under project 10 000.

“We commend the South African Police Service for their unwavering commitment to combating crime, as mandated by Section 205 of the Constitution. However, we remain deeply concerned about the continued scourge of gender-based violence, the increase in attempted murders of children, and the persistence of gang-related murders, particularly in the Western Cape,” she said.

The ANC called for strengthened partnerships between the police, community structures, and civil society to tackle these issues with the urgency they demand.