WC authorities forced to try something different to bring criminals to book

CAPE TOWN - With crime soaring, Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said authorities have been forced to try something different to bring criminals to book.

Winde joined President Cyril Ramaphosa in Belhar on Friday to sign a cooperation agreement that will see all three spheres of government come together to combat crime in Western Cape.

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The quarterly crime statistics released on Friday showed a 28% increase in violent crime since the beginning of 2024.

Winde said something needs to change.

"This cooperation agreement is the first time that you're really seeing proper cooperation and I'm pretty certain that it's something else. So, you've got to try something new because the crime stats cannot continue growing like they're growing."

Ramaphosa, who endorsed the agreement, also had a message for criminals.

"If you want to commit yourself to crime, start running and run very fast because our security forces are coming for you."