According to the Crime Statistics released by the South African Police Service (SAPS) last week, the Johannesburg Central Police Station deals with the second highest number of cases reported in Gauteng, with 13044 cases reported for 2016/2017 financial year.
Creating a safe city for the residents of Johannesburg is one of Mayor Herman Mashaba’s top priorities, and the City’s Department of Public Safety has been making steadfast progress in crime reduction.
Though the present Crime Stats represent crime trends up to March this year, the Department of Public Safety has nonetheless begun to analyse the 2016/17 Crime Stats in order to inform our efforts to counter the reported increase in crime for the Midrand and Central Johannesburg areas.
Out of the 30 most crime ridden areas in the country, six are Johannesburg-based:
| Station | Province | Reported crimes | Change from 2016 |
| Johannesburg Central | Gauteng | 13 044 | +1.0% |
| Honeydew | Gauteng | 10 965 | -1.5% |
| Hillbrow | Gauteng | 9 522 | -1.9% |
| Sandton | Gauteng | 8 368 | -2.9% |
| Midrand | Gauteng | 8 097 | +15.2% |
| Roodepoort | Gauteng | 6 923 | -1.7% |
With the exception of Johannesburg Central and Midrand, Honeydew, Hillbrow, Sandton and Roodepoort has seen a decline in reported crimes.
One of the City’s most recent initiatives is the recruitment of the 1 500 JMPD Trainees whom have already started with their training at the JMPD Academy.
“We are eager to see the new JMPD recruits complete their training and join in the fight against crime in the City. We will also ensure that we step up our game in various other areas of public safety, such as by-law enforcement and traffic management,” says MMC Sun.
In line with the City’s commitment to create safe communities, the Department will be rolling out innovative strategies to fight crime – which include the design and launch of the Smart City-Safe City projects; intensifying and upgrading the K9 Unit’s function, establishing more specialised “Quick- Attack” units to focus on business and residential robberies and other syndicated crimes; taking on a tougher stance towards lawlessness on our roads and by-law contraventions; and implementing community based prevention projects aimed at crime reduction and gender based violence.
MMC Sun says “We need to understand that Crime Stats are not just numbers. It represents actual incidences which involves real life victims, and although we are seeing positive results stemming from the combined efforts by JMPD, SAPS, other law enforcement agencies and very importantly, the involvement of community members in the reduction of reported crimes, the work of driving out criminals from our City is far from over.”
The Department will strive towards achieving a further reduction in crime for the 2017/18 period and we will not rest until the streets of Johannesburg are safe.