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Limpopo police made significant strides in reducing crime, with a notable 3.3% per capita of a
100,000 population in murder cases, making it the safest province in South Africa. This is
according to the latest crime statistics of the 1st Quarter Crime Statistics 2024/2025, announced
on 17 September.
Throughout the period under review, there were no successful incidents of cash-in-transit
robberies, since the successful takedown operation in Makhado(in September 2023, where 19
suspected cash-in-transit robbers were killed in a shootout with the police).
The Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe said this achievement is
attributed to the tireless efforts of her members. This, she said, highlights police’s capabilities to
deal with any eventuality and returning fire with fire. “As police, we will not back down from
applying force that is directly proportional to the threat.
Attempts to commit these crimes(CITs) were received in various areas, our intelligence
gathering on the ground was effective and ensured that we step up to thwart these incidents
from happening. This accomplishment highlights the efficacy of our pro-active policing
strategies and the unwavering dedication of our law enforcement agencies. This is huge
achievement by any stretch of iimagination”, she said.
Hadebe made the announcement, together with the MEC for Transport and Community Safety,
Violet Mathye and other stakeholders. She commended the continued efforts of the men and
women in blue in their endevours to fight crime, and initiatives to educate communities of the
impact of engaging in mob justice. Hadebe highlighted the serious implications of vigilantism
that continues to plague society and undermines the rule of law. She stressed that it will be
addressed at every opportunity, including all other crime categories such as borderline, drug-
related, gender-based violence etc.
Key highlights of the province’s crime statistics were as follows:
- A 3.8% decrease in rape cases and a 6% decline in sexual offenses have been reported.
- A 9.8% increase in crimes detected as a result of police interventions, with significant rises in
illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, drug-related offenses, and driving under the
influence. - The arrest of 6,883 undocumented foreign nationals, 117 suspects for murder, 83 for
attempted murder, 158 for rape, and 1,429 for drug-related offenses. - Confiscation of drugs valued at R2 billion from a clandestine drug lab in Groblersdal and
interception of vehicles worth millions of rand in-route to be smuggled out of the country. - Recovery of 248 firearms and 1 736 rounds of ammunition.
Transport and Community Safety MEC, Violet Mathye, also commended police for their efforts
in creating safer communities. “The government has taken a no-nonsense approach towards
crime, with interventions aimed at reducing cross-border crime and corruption. This is quite
insignificant considering that major forms of crime continue to be under control”, she said.
She encouraged Hadebe and her team to continue working harder to ensure that Limpopo
remains safe. Mathye applauded police investigations that led to the arrest of three men at a
farm outside Polokwane, following the killing of two women whose corpses were fed to pigs last
month. In addition she said her department made a commitment to ensure that Community
Police and Safety Forums are fully-functional, because they are critical components in fighting
crimes like house burglaries and robberies in residential areas.