KZN township boasts huge drop in murder rate

● Once the crime capital of SA and a hotbed of political violence post-apartheid, KwaMashu in KwaZulu-Natal has shown one of the highest reductions of murders in the country.

SAPS crime statistics released this week revealed that the township — just 10km from the posh suburb of Durban North — was able to reduce its murder rate by 22%. This meant it dropped from 15th in 2017/2018 to 27th in a list of SA’s top 30 stations for the most murders reported. In 2009/2010 it recorded the highest number of murders in the country.

Community Policing Forum (CPF) chair Lethuxolo Hlatshwayo attributes the drop to the role the forum plays in bridging the gap between the public and local police.

Last year she hatched a plan with police to address the murder issue. “KwaMashu is divided into six sectors and our main issue lies in sector one — the hostel. We looked at how we were going to address the murders and we began engaging more with the community. What we then found was that people started providing us and the SAPS with more information. If they suspected someone or something they would tip us off and we would engage with police to investigate.”

She said the hostel remained a hurdle for the CPF as political interference had hindered progress in reducing crime in the area.

Hlatshwayo has almost a decade of experience in fighting crime. She started as a youth desk member and worked her way up the various structures, eventually being elected CPF head in 2017.

She says being a woman and fighting crime is nothing out of the ordinary. “Historically KwaMashu has had women in the role of CPF chair. I enjoy everything that comes with fighting crime. I see an impact when I address the community — they listen and act as soon as possible. I am the people’s voice, the bridge between the police and the community, and I am not afraid to learn things."

The KwaMashu CPF and Hlatshwayo are now facing a new challenge. Coupled with recent spikes in hijackings and stolen vehicles, they are being called on to assist their neighbour — Inanda, the rape capital of SA.

The township borders KwaMashu and forms part of the eThekwini Inner North cluster, along with Greenwood Park, Ntuzuma and Newlands. For the past three years Inanda has recorded the highest number of rapes in SA. But what concerns Hlatshwayo most is the drastic increase.

The stats show an increase of 60 rape cases, a jump from 278 in the previous reporting period, and she believes the issue of alcohol and taverns operating after hours needs to be urgently addressed.