/ 15 July 2003

Welcome to Jo’burg – now hand over your car

Common assault, drug related offences and the theft of motor vehicles or motorcycles are the major forms of crime at the Johannesburg International Airport, according to figures released by Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula.

Replying to a question from Democratic Alliance member of Parliament Mike Waters, Nqakula said there had been 16 vehicles or motorcycles stolen in the period January to March 2002 at the airport and so far none of the cases had been referred to court. There had been just one car-hijacking case but 21 common assault cases of which there were four common assault cases before the courts.

The minister emphasised that the cases referred to court in the period January to March 2002 did not necessarily refer to the cases reported in that time.

There had been one culpable homicide case but not one murder case. There had been five cases of assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm and there were just three cases of grievous assault referred to the courts.

There had been 52 drug related crime cases reported and there were 28 drug cases before court. There had been no muggings or rape cases reported.

But there had been 14 cases of malicious damage to property, eight burglaries and 10 robberies in this three month period. Three robbery cases were before the courts. – I-Net Bridge