KEMPTON PARK - Contact crime in Gauteng decreased, said Police Commissioner General Tommy Mthombeni on Tuesday.
Mthombeni said the fourth-quarter crime statistics show a 5.2 percent decrease. The province has also seen a decrease in serious crimes, except in arson and commercial crimes.
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"There is a noticeable trend for us to build safer communities," said Mthombeni.
Of all the provinces, Gauteng accounts for 26 percent of the country's 17 community-reported crimes.
Contact crimes in the province have gone down by 5.9 percent. Murders and attempted murders have gone down by 15 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively.
Mthombeni has highlighted that the top reasons for murders have been arguments caused by misunderstandings, road rage and vigilantism and robbery.
"We call on residents to have a high tolerance for one another," said Mthombeni.
Rape decreased by 9.9 percent and sexual violence increased by 5.2 percent.