LAVIS CRIME FIGHTERS' CRY FOR HELP

BISHOP Lavis crime fighters said that urgent intervention is needed to make their community safer after the Cape Flats neighbourhood was ranked in the top 30 most violent in South Africa.

Following the fourth-quarter crime statistics released by SAPS last Friday, Bishop Lavis Crime Prevention Forum (BLCPF) Chairperson Graham Lindhorst said in a statement on Monday that the community is appealing for help.

According to the stats, the cop shop ranks as follows: 22nd nationally and 9th provincially for sexual assault; 29th nationally and 12th provincially for common assault; third nationally and second provincially for common robbery; 11th nationally and 10th provincially for contact related crimes; sixth nationally and fourth provincially for arson; 12th Nationally and 10th Provincially for malicious damage to property.

Lindhorst says: “The BLCPF have noticed with concern the crime stats released on Friday 23rd May 2025 for crimes reported for period 1 January to 30 March 2025. 

“We regrettably take note that the Bishop Lavis Precinct is featuring amongst the top 30 stations Nationally and Provincially related to certain crimes.

"We also notice that Nationally we rank 17th and Provincially 16th for crimes detected by police and sixth nationally and fifth provincially for illegal possession of firearms. 

“The BLCPF expresses concern that the Bishop Lavis precinct is featured in no less than eight categories under the top 30 stations affecting the community negatively.” 

The statistics follows after the community experienced a spat of murder incidents in the past month, including that of a 31-year-old off-duty constable stationed at the cop shop, whose body was discovered in her vehicle in Langa.

The Magistrates Court was also vandalised by protesters, who set parts of it on fire and stole essential court equipment in December 2024

Lindhorst adds: “We again call on the National Minister of Police, the National Commissioner of Police, the Provincial Minister of Police and the MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety to come and respond to our request we made for answers on the transfer of two well decorated and qualified Officers from the station and the shortage of Senior Officers at the station. 

“As a community we are asking is the suffering of our community under violent crime not enough to warrant the attention and intervention of those who are mandated to keep the community safe.”