South Africa crime statistics show mixed trends in Tshwane and Cape Town

Recent crime statistics from South Africa reveal divergent trends across major metropolitan areas. In Tshwane, contact crime decreased by 7.4% during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, with murder dropping by 23.4% and residential robbery falling by 46.5%. However, specific hotspots such as Mamelodi, Atteridgeville, and Ga-Rankuwa continue to face high rates of kidnapping, carjacking, and rape.

In Cape Town, while crime increased in 36 of the city's 63 police precincts, several historically dangerous areas saw declines. Manenberg reported a 10% drop in crime compared to the same period in 2025, with drug-related offenses being the most common. Other precincts experiencing decreases include Lwandle, Samora Machel, Lentegeur, and Nyanga. Conversely, crime rose in areas such as Sea Point and Table View.