Highest Crime Areas in South Africa
These are the 50 police precincts with the highest crime rates in South Africa, based on official SAPS data for the 2022/23 fiscal year. The national average crime rate is 3,124 per 100,000 people. A high total crime rate does not always indicate high levels of violent crime — see both columns below.
Precincts Ranked
50
National Crime Rate
3,124 / 100k
National Violent Rate
1,134 / 100k
Most Affected Province
Western Cape
Top 50 Highest-Crime Precincts — Ranked by Crime Rate
| Rank | Precinct | Crime Rate | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OR Tambo International AirportGauteng | 80,700,000 | F |
| 2 | Maydon WharfKwaZulu-Natal | 44,400,000 | F |
| 3 | King Shaka International AirportKwaZulu-Natal | 17,000,000 | F |
| 4 | Park RoadFree State | 24,027 | F |
| 5 | Graaff-ReinetEastern Cape | 21,959 | F |
| 6 | WorcesterWestern Cape | 21,693 | F |
| 7 | StellenboschWestern Cape | 19,886 | F |
| 8 | KimberleyNorthern Cape | 19,655 | F |
| 9 | Mitchells PlainWestern Cape | 19,301 | F |
| 10 | HermanusWestern Cape | 18,174 | F |
| 11 | GrahamstownEastern Cape | 18,076 | F |
| 12 | Cape Town CentralWestern Cape | 17,839 | F |
| 13 | SpringbokNorthern Cape | 17,112 | F |
| 14 | East LondonEastern Cape | 16,633 | F |
| 15 | Beaufort WestWestern Cape | 16,506 | F |
| 16 | WelkomFree State | 15,604 | F |
| 17 | UpingtonNorthern Cape | 15,338 | F |
| 18 | DouglasNorthern Cape | 15,121 | F |
| 19 | PlessislaerKwaZulu-Natal | 14,637 | F |
| 20 | RustenburgNorth West | 14,585 | F |
| 21 | VredenburgWestern Cape | 14,304 | F |
| 22 | MalmesburyWestern Cape | 14,063 | F |
| 23 | PaarlWestern Cape | 13,866 | F |
| 24 | OudtshoornWestern Cape | 13,592 | F |
| 25 | Paarl EastWestern Cape | 13,527 | F |
| 26 | KnysnaWestern Cape | 13,495 | F |
| 27 | GeorgeWestern Cape | 13,480 | F |
| 28 | ThabongFree State | 13,396 | F |
| 29 | MakhandaEastern Cape | 13,394 | F |
| 30 | MahwelerengLimpopo | 13,358 | F |
| 31 | KraaifonteinWestern Cape | 13,183 | F |
| 32 | HumansdorpEastern Cape | 12,956 | F |
| 33 | DelftWestern Cape | 12,729 | F |
| 34 | PhuthaditjhabaFree State | 11,961 | F |
| 35 | SterkspruitEastern Cape | 11,953 | F |
| 36 | Durban CentralKwaZulu-Natal | 11,858 | F |
| 37 | GalesheweNorthern Cape | 11,565 | F |
| 38 | CambridgeEastern Cape | 11,485 | F |
| 39 | NababeepNorthern Cape | 11,398 | F |
| 40 | MfuleniWestern Cape | 11,387 | F |
| 41 | GrabouwWestern Cape | 11,242 | F |
| 42 | Jeffreys BayEastern Cape | 11,210 | F |
| 43 | HarrismithFree State | 11,204 | F |
| 44 | ZamdelaFree State | 10,992 | F |
| 45 | De AarNorthern Cape | 10,945 | F |
| 46 | LadysmithKwaZulu-Natal | 10,941 | F |
| 47 | MahikengNorth West | 10,905 | F |
| 48 | PietermaritzburgKwaZulu-Natal | 10,882 | F |
| 49 | Mountain RiseKwaZulu-Natal | 10,862 | F |
| 50 | SaldanhaWestern Cape | 10,821 | F |
Crime rate = reported crimes per 100,000 people. Source: SAPS FY2022.
High-Crime Areas by Province
Crime is not evenly distributed across South Africa. Some provinces contribute more precincts to the highest-crime list than others, reflecting differences in urbanisation, economic activity, and policing resources.
- Graaff-Reinet21,959 / 100k
- Grahamstown18,076 / 100k
- East London16,633 / 100k
- Makhanda13,394 / 100k
- Humansdorp12,956 / 100k
- +3 more
- Park Road24,027 / 100k
- Welkom15,604 / 100k
- Thabong13,396 / 100k
- Phuthaditjhaba11,961 / 100k
- Harrismith11,204 / 100k
- +1 more
- OR Tambo International Airport80,700,000 / 100k
- Maydon Wharf44,400,000 / 100k
- King Shaka International Airport17,000,000 / 100k
- Plessislaer14,637 / 100k
- Durban Central11,858 / 100k
- Ladysmith10,941 / 100k
- +2 more
- Mahwelereng13,358 / 100k
No precincts in the top 50
- Rustenburg14,585 / 100k
- Mahikeng10,905 / 100k
- Worcester21,693 / 100k
- Stellenbosch19,886 / 100k
- Mitchells Plain19,301 / 100k
- Hermanus18,174 / 100k
- Cape Town Central17,839 / 100k
- +13 more
Understanding High Crime Rates
A high crime rate does not necessarily mean an area is violent or unsafe to visit. Crime statistics include a wide range of offences — from shoplifting, drug-related crimes, and commercial fraud to serious violent crimes like murder and robbery. Some precincts have high total crime rates driven largely by property crime or commercial activity, while their violent crime rates remain comparatively low.
Central business districts and commercial hubs often appear high on these lists because of the volume of property crime and commercial crime reported there, even though they may feel relatively safe during business hours. Conversely, some areas with moderate total crime rates may have disproportionately high violent crime rates.
When assessing safety, always consider both the total crime rate and the violent crime rate. The table above includes both figures for each precinct. For a detailed breakdown of crime types in any area, visit the individual precinct page. For methodology details, see our methodology page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest-crime area in South Africa?
Based on the latest SAPS data (FY2022), OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng has the highest crime rate at 80,700,000 per 100,000 people, with a violent crime rate of 4,900,000 per 100,000.
Does a high crime rate mean an area is violent?
Not necessarily. Total crime rates include all offence types — from shoplifting and commercial fraud to violent crimes like robbery and assault. Some precincts rank high for total crime due to property crime or police-detected offences, while their violent crime rates may be comparatively lower. The table above shows both total and violent crime rates so you can distinguish between the two.
Which province has the most high-crime areas?
Of the top 50 highest-crime precincts, Western Cape has the most with 18 precincts, followed by Eastern Cape with 8.
How is crime rate calculated?
Crime rate is the number of reported crimes per 100,000 estimated population in each police precinct area. Population is estimated from Stats SA provincial data divided across stations. Data covers the FY2022 fiscal year from SAPS quarterly reports.