Murders decrease in Nelson Mandela Bay — but kidnappings and rape on the rise

Violent crime in Nelson Mandela Bay has fallen in several categories, including murder, attempted murder and truck hijackings, according to new police data. However, sexual offences and kidnappings rose during the period under review.

As predicted by district police commissioner Major General Vuyisile Ncata, decreases in violent crime in specific areas within Nelson Mandela Bay clearly showed where police resources were allocated in the previous financial year.

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The statistics released on Friday reflected crimes reported over the first and second quarters of the 2025-26 police financial year — in other words, cases opened between the beginning of April and the end of September.

There were significantly fewer crimes in the vast majority of categories than in the same period in 2024.

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There were 148 fewer murders, while attempted murders dropped by 137. Out of the top 30 stations countrywide for the number of murders reported, five were in Nelson Mandela Bay. However, all of them occupied lower positions than they did a year ago.

New Brighton was the highest Bay station on the list when it came to murder. In the first quarter, it was 20th, but dropped by 20 cases, from 53 to 33, compared to the same period the year before. In the second quarter, occupying 7th position, the figure dropped from 54 to 52 reported cases.

Unfortunately, gender-based violence and sexual offences are an ever-present scourge. While the figures for sexual offences dropped in the first quarter, from 240 to 228, they increased in the second quarter, from 238 to 260.

Over the two quarters combined, rape cases increased from 389 to 409.

Police stations in Gqeberha’s gang-affected northern neighbourhoods, such as Gelvandale and Bethelsdorp, were not in the top 30 for murders or attempted murders —a significant improvement.

In November, after an oversight visit by the chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, Ncata hit back at harsh criticism over policing in his district.

He conceded that there were many challenges, including a lack of vehicles and delays in repairs at police garages. However, he said, the crime stats would indicate a significant decrease in crimes like truck hijackings, which were a major concern in the Bay in recent years.

Confirming his predictions, truck hijackings in the metro dropped from 67 incidents to 25 over the two quarters in question.

Ncata also said investigations into shootings, which plagued Nelson Mandela Bay two years ago, had received more attention and resulted in a noteworthy decrease in murders, particularly in New Brighton, Kwazakele and KwaNobuhle.

However, during his visit, Cameron said an increase in high-profile kidnappings was the latest concern and was directly related to a lack of resources, such as vehicles, at crucial policing units like the Flying Squad and K9 Unit.

Read more: Parliamentary oversight visit reveals shocking state of Nelson Mandela Bay’s elite police units

The latest statistics revealed that kidnappings had increased from 108 to 120 cases, and all indications are that these figures will continue to rise when the next quarter’s statistics come to light.

DA MPL Yusuf Cassim accompanied Cameron’s delegation on their oversight visits. After the release of the statistics, Cassim agreed that while violent crime had shown “modest declines”, crime levels in the broader Eastern Cape were still a major concern.

“You are still more likely to be murdered or raped in the Eastern Cape than any other province in the country,” said Cassim.

He called for the establishment of a permanent Joint Operations Centre in Nelson Mandela Bay, which should include the Hawks, SAPS, metro police and the National Prosecuting Authority to coordinate real-time intelligence and conduct targeted operations, particularly to counter the increase in kidnapping cases. DM