MEC Macie calls for tougher response to violent crime in Mpumalanga

Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Jackie Macie has called for a tougher, intelligence-led response to murder, rape, organised crime, illegal mining and other violent crimes, despite a decline in several crime categories in the province.

Speaking at the Mpumalanga Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster meeting on Thursday, Macie said the latest first-quarter crime statistics showed progress but also highlighted serious areas of concern.

The province recorded an overall reduction in contact crime, while aggravated robbery dropped by 25% and all three districts contributed to the decline in serious crime.

However, Macie warned that increases in murder, rape, attempted murder and common robbery could not be overlooked.

“We cannot celebrate selectively. The increases in murder, rape, attempted murder and common robbery are serious pressure points,” Macie said.

“Each number represents a person, a family and a community whose sense of safety has been violated.”

Macie said the province needed to move beyond statistics and ensure intelligence was translated into coordinated operations and measurable safety outcomes.

He called for sustained policing along major transport corridors, including the N4, N12 and N17, particularly in areas linked to cross-border movement and criminal activity.

Macie also singled out organised crime and extortion at construction sites, saying criminal syndicates were undermining service delivery and economic development.

“No person or grouping has a right to use violence or intimidation to appoint itself as a gatekeeper to public development,” he said.

Illegal mining, particularly in parts of Ehlanzeni, also requires a dedicated provincial strategy targeting syndicates, financiers, suppliers and buyers rather than only low-level miners, he said.

On gender-based violence and femicide, Macie called for stronger prevention measures and better support for victims.

“Our message must be unambiguous: violence against women and children is not a private family matter; it is a serious crime and an assault on the constitutional order,” he said.

Macie said the cluster should leave the meeting with clear priorities, responsible institutions and measurable 30-, 60- and 90-day targets.