What does crime concentration mean?

The smallest set of police precincts whose combined reported crime reaches a share (50%, 75% or 90%) of the total for a given area and category, in the 2025/2026 financial year. It shows how unevenly reported crime is distributed — not how dangerous an area is. This kind of analysis is often called a crime hotspot map; SafeSuburb presents the underlying counts without a safety verdict.

Why do some precincts account for so much reported crime?

Precincts serving larger residential or commercial populations naturally record more reports. Concentration reflects raw reported counts, not population-adjusted rates — a precinct can rank high simply because it serves more people.

Where Reported Crime Concentrates in South Africa

180 of South Africa's 1169 police precincts (15.4%) account for half of all reported crime in 2025/2026 — 381 precincts account for 75%, and 616 for 90%. Source: SAPS quarterly crime statistics.

Raw reported counts — precincts serving more people naturally record more reports. Not a safety ranking. Methodology

How steep is the concentration curve?

Cumulative share of national reported crime vs number of precincts, ranked largest first, 2025/2026. Drawn from five measured points — the origin and the 50%, 75%, 90% and 100% thresholds — joined by straight segments.

The national split at a glance

180 precincts = 50% of reported crime next 201 = 25% remaining 788 = 25%

Which crime types concentrate most?

Precincts needed to reach 50% of the national total, per category — fewer means more concentrated.

Category	Precincts to reach 50%
Vehicle theft	67
Drug-related crime	91
Aggravated robbery	117
Murder	126
Rape	197
Assault (GBH)	204
Residential burglary	210

The largest contributors nationally

Precinct	Province	Reported crimes (2025/2026)	Cumulative share
Cape Town Central	Western Cape	16,722	0.9%
Mitchells Plain	Western Cape	14,658	1.7%
Delft	Western Cape	11,404	2.3%
Durban Central	KwaZulu-Natal	9,738	2.8%
Mfuleni	Western Cape	9,629	3.4%
JHB Central	Gauteng	9,349	3.9%
Kraaifontein	Western Cape	8,956	4.4%
Park Road	Free State	8,726	4.8%
Tembisa	Gauteng	8,434	5.3%
Worcester	Western Cape	8,015	5.7%

Top 10 of the 180 precincts in the national 50% set.

Eastern Cape

34 of 200 precincts account for half of Eastern Cape's reported crime in 2025/2026. See it on the map →

Largest contributors in Eastern Cape

Precinct	Reported crimes	Cumulative share
Kugompo	5,556	3.1%
Mthatha	4,672	5.6%
Mount Road	4,343	8%
Cambridge	4,186	10.4%
Humewood	3,767	12.4%
Qonce	3,575	14.4%
Mdantsane	3,396	16.3%
Kabega Park	3,366	18.1%
Madeira	3,231	19.9%
Walmer	3,158	21.7%

Free State

17 of 113 precincts account for half of Free State's reported crime in 2025/2026. See it on the map →

Largest contributors in Free State

Precinct	Reported crimes	Cumulative share
Park Road	8,726	8%
Thabong	4,166	11.9%
Welkom	4,056	15.6%
Bloemspruit	3,592	18.9%
Kagisanong	3,545	22.2%
Mangaung	3,205	25.2%
Boithuso	3,063	28%
Phuthaditjhaba	2,873	30.6%
Odendaalsrus	2,762	33.2%
Botshabelo	2,717	35.7%

Gauteng

43 of 146 precincts account for half of Gauteng's reported crime in 2025/2026. See it on the map →

Largest contributors in Gauteng

Precinct	Reported crimes	Cumulative share
JHB Central	9,349	1.9%
Tembisa	8,434	3.7%
Midrand	8,005	5.3%
Roodepoort	7,656	6.9%
Honeydew	7,344	8.4%
Ivory Park	7,060	9.9%
Kempton Park	6,722	11.2%
Sandton	6,645	12.6%
Sunnyside	6,571	14%
Temba	6,293	15.3%

KwaZulu-Natal

28 of 184 precincts account for half of KwaZulu-Natal's reported crime in 2025/2026. See it on the map →

Largest contributors in KwaZulu-Natal

Precinct	Reported crimes	Cumulative share
Durban Central	9,738	3.2%
Phoenix	7,993	5.9%
Chatsworth	7,865	8.5%
Plessislaer	7,804	11.1%
Inanda	7,587	13.6%
Empangeni	6,585	15.8%
Pinetown	6,508	18%
Kwadukuza	6,447	20.1%
Ladysmith	6,286	22.2%
Verulam	6,264	24.3%

Limpopo

19 of 106 precincts account for half of Limpopo's reported crime in 2025/2026. See it on the map →

Largest contributors in Limpopo

Precinct	Reported crimes	Cumulative share
Polokwane	6,311	5.5%
Mankweng	5,950	10.7%
Thohoyandou	5,790	15.8%
Seshego	5,580	20.7%
Lebowakgomo	3,410	23.7%
Giyani	2,728	26.1%
Mahwelereng	2,683	28.4%
Maake	2,612	30.7%
Tzaneen	2,522	32.9%
Westenburg	2,400	35.1%

Mpumalanga

16 of 90 precincts account for half of Mpumalanga's reported crime in 2025/2026. See it on the map →

Largest contributors in Mpumalanga

Precinct	Reported crimes	Cumulative share
Witbank	5,264	5.7%
Nelspruit	4,794	10.9%
Middelburg Mpumalang	4,718	16%
Vosman	4,417	20.8%
Kwamhlanga	3,114	24.2%
Ermelo	2,668	27.1%
Delmas	2,582	29.9%
Standerton	2,488	32.6%
Barberton	2,437	35.2%
Embalenhle	2,414	37.8%

North West

15 of 86 precincts account for half of North West's reported crime in 2025/2026. See it on the map →

Largest contributors in North West

Precinct	Reported crimes	Cumulative share
Rustenburg	6,805	5.9%
Brits	5,980	11%
Klerksdorp	4,310	14.7%
Letlhabile	4,068	18.2%
Mmabatho	3,936	21.6%
Ikageng	3,915	24.9%
Mahikeng	3,856	28.3%
Tlhabane	3,791	31.5%
Boitekong	3,762	34.8%
Mogwase	3,702	37.9%

Northern Cape

10 of 92 precincts account for half of Northern Cape's reported crime in 2025/2026. See it on the map →

Largest contributors in Northern Cape

Precinct	Reported crimes	Cumulative share
Kimberley	5,251	10.7%
Galeshewe	4,048	18.9%
Upington	2,925	24.8%
Roodepan	2,790	30.5%
Postmasburg	1,914	34.3%
Kagisho	1,822	38%
Rosedale	1,725	41.5%
Kuruman	1,611	44.8%
Mothibistad	1,524	47.9%
Kakamas	1,384	50.7%

Western Cape

29 of 152 precincts account for half of Western Cape's reported crime in 2025/2026. See it on the map →

Largest contributors in Western Cape

Precinct	Reported crimes	Cumulative share
Cape Town Central	16,722	4.2%
Mitchells Plain	14,658	7.8%
Delft	11,404	10.7%
Mfuleni	9,629	13.1%
Kraaifontein	8,956	15.3%
Worcester	8,015	17.3%
Nyanga	7,300	19.1%
Kleinvlei	7,280	20.9%
Atlantis	6,718	22.6%
Stellenbosch	6,650	24.3%

Explore concentration on the interactive map →