Eastern Cape police have announced a decline in contact crimes for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. This is from over 15,000 in the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year to around 14,000 for the quarter ending in June this year. Police Provincial Commissioner Vuyisile Ncata, announced the statistics at Dimbaza, just outside Qonce.
While Ncata credited the overall reduction in contact crime to the commitment by the police officers on the ground, he is however concerned about the high number of crimes committed using firearms. Three hundred and sixty nine murder cases and 321 attempted murder cases were attributed to firearms. “I think and believe that we can do more because the firearms are a weapon of choice. Almost all the crimes happening here – the murders, attempted murders, the robberies – firearms are the weapon of choice. Yes, of course we have recovered a high number of firearms including ammunition. So, it is an indication that the police are very hard at work,” Ncata explained.
While overall crime declined, some categories increased. Xolile Nqata of Community Safety MEC, raised concerns with the increased rate of sexual offences. “It often has to do with alcohol. Some of the crimes committed are not easily policeable because they happen between people who know each other within households. These are some of the incidents that continue to occur, and some are also linked to the lack of consequences. That is why we are appealing for cooperation from members of the community, because if we secure successful convictions in many of these cases, it is likely to discourage people from committing crimes,” Nqata said.
