The latest fourth quarter crime statistics report has placed the Thohoyandou Policing area in Limpopo as the number hot spot for rape in South Africa.
While the level of contact crimes in Limpopo have decreased, between January and March 2025, Thohoyandou station has recorded 85 rape cases, making it the highest station with reported sexual offences and rape.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) spokesperson for Transport and Community Safety Marie Helm says they are concerned that the station is the only provincial station in the top 30 stations for all contact crimes, ranked 15th, and also appear in the top 30 stations for various crimes 13 times.
“Thohoyandou is most often against the downward trend of a specific crime category in Limpopo with increases in assault GBH, common assault and common robbery.
“Urgent high-level intervention is required as SAPS is losing the battle against crime in Thohoyandou,” Helm stressed.
A 59-year-old David Nembahe, a resident of Makwarela under the Thohoyandou Policing area says the prevalence of sexual offences and rape cases can be linked to the rise of drug addicts, who are found at almost every corner of the Thohoyandou areas.
“the rise of drugs, nyaope taken by our children make our streets unsafe. Almost every corner is them busy doing their stuff (smoking drugs)who are capable of rape and mugging people at night.
“ As a community, we need to work together with the police in combating the crime in Thohoyandou by establishing Police forums”, Nembahe said.
Other stations in Limpopo with alarming increase of reported sexual offences and rape cases include Seshego at 13th and Mankweng 18th respectively in the National top 30.
According to Helm, the per capita chances of being raped in Limpopo is above the national average and is indicative of persistent misguided efforts to instil a lack of zero tolerance for gender-based violence and femicide (GBV+F) in our society, as well as a lack of resources and experienced investigating officers.
During the release of the fourth quarter crime statistics on Friday, 23 May, Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu announced that they have launched a 90-day gender- based violence and femicide blitz.
“To this end, the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS) has launched a 90-day gender-based violence and femicide (GBV&F) blitz, which began on May 12025. This includes the revival of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on GBV&F, tasked with coordinating government interventions, resolving systemic bottlenecks, and ensuring measurable progress. NatJoints is leading the coordination of frontline safety and protection efforts,” Mchunu said.
