Besters Crime Statistics

Besters, Uthukela (Ladysmith), KwaZulu-Natal — Latest SAPS Crime Data

B73/100

Safe

Total Crimes

369

-7.5% vs 2024

Crime Rate

998

per 100k

Safety Score

73/100

Grade B — Safe

Population

49,318

Crime Breakdown — Besters (2025)

Crime Category	Group	Cases	% of Total
Common assault	contact	109	29.5%
Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm	contact	72	19.5%
All theft not mentioned elsewhere	other-serious	52	14.1%
Crimen Injuria	contact-related	37	10.0%
Malicious damage to property	contact-related	37	10.0%
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs	detected	29	7.9%
Stock Theft	property	27	7.3%
Burglary at residential premises	property	17	4.6%
Rape	contact	17	4.6%
Sexual offences detected as a result of police action	detected	17	4.6%
Common robbery	contact	13	3.5%
Theft out of or from motor vehicle	property	12	3.3%
Burglary at non-residential premises	property	11	3.0%
Commercial Crime	other-serious	11	3.0%
Other aggravated robbery	other-serious	7	1.9%
Murder	contact	5	1.4%
Kidnapping	contact	4	1.1%
Attempted murder	contact	3	0.8%
Carjacking	contact	3	0.8%
Culpable homicide	other-serious	1	0.3%
Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition	detected	1	0.3%
Robbery at non-residential premises	contact	1	0.3%
Sexual Assault	contact	1	0.3%
Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle	property	1	0.3%
Truck hijacking	contact	1	0.3%
Abduction	contact	0	0.0%
Arson	contact-related	0	0.0%
Attempted Sexual Offences	contact	0	0.0%
Bank Robbery	contact	0	0.0%
Contact Sexual Offences	contact	0	0.0%
Drug-Related Crime	detected	0	0.0%
Neglect and ill-treatment of children	contact	0	0.0%
Public violence	contact-related	0	0.0%
Robbery at residential premises	contact	0	0.0%
Robbery of cash in transit	contact	0	0.0%
Shoplifting	other-serious	0	0.0%

Besters Crime Trend (2018-2025)

Besters Crime Breakdown (2025)

Is Besters Safe?

Yes, Besters is relatively safe.

Besters scores 73/100 on our safety index, earning a Grade B (Safe). With a crime rate of 998 per 100,000 people, Besters sits well below the national average. Residents and visitors in Besters can generally feel secure, though standard urban precautions still apply.

vs National Average

-67%

Well below average

Year-on-Year

-7.5%

Crime decreasing

Top Crime

Common assault

30% of all crime

Rank in Uthukela (Ladysmith)

9/16

Mid-range

Crime breakdown in Besters

In 2025, Besters recorded 369 total crimes. The most prevalent crime in Besters is Common assault with 109 reported cases (29.5% of all crime in Besters), followed by Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm at 72 cases (19.5%) and All theft not mentioned elsewhere at 52 cases (14.1%).

Compared to 2024, crime in Besters has decreased by 7.5%, a positive sign for the Besters community.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common crimes in Besters?

The most reported crimes in Besters are Common assault (109 cases), Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm (72 cases), All theft not mentioned elsewhere (52 cases). These figures are based on 2025 SAPS data.

How does Besters compare to other areas in Uthukela (Ladysmith)?

Besters has a crime rate of 998 per 100k. Compared to other precincts in Uthukela (Ladysmith), Van Reenen is safer with a rate of 349 per 100k.

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Other Precincts in Uthukela (Ladysmith)

Precinct	Population	Crimes	Rate	Safety
Van Reenen	49,318	129	349	A (90)
Weenen	49,318	233	631	A (82)
Upper Tugela	49,318	240	649	A (82)
Colenso	49,318	282	762	B (78)
Elandslaagte	49,318	317	858	B (76)
Ematsheni	49,318	333	900	B (75)
Wembezi	49,318	344	931	B (75)
Winterton	49,318	364	983	B (73)
Amangwe	49,318	461	1,247	B (67)
Ntabamhlophe	49,318	499	1,348	B (65)