Butterworth Precinct
Amathole|2 suburbs
How much crime was reported in the Butterworth precinct?
The Butterworth SAPS precinct recorded 2,256 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, up 25% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025.
Very High volume for Eastern CapeHigh nationally
Largest categories
Whole-precinct figures, reported crime only, raw counts. Source: SAPS quarterly crime statistics (saps.gov.za), Apr 2025–Mar 2026.
What this data can't tell you
- Exactly where in the precinct crimes happened. SAPS reports crime per police precinct. These figures cover the whole Butterworth precinct area, and all 2 suburbs in it share them.
- Crime that was never reported. SAPS counts crimes reported to the police. Not all crime is reported, so actual incidence is higher. Reporting rates also vary by area and crime type, so there is no reliable way to correct for it. How we handle this →
- How crime compares per resident. These are raw counts with no population adjustment. Precincts serving more people naturally record more crimes. The trend over time, which compares this precinct against its own history, is the more reliable signal.
See how Butterworth compares to other Eastern Cape precincts vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025 → Crime by precinct in Amathole →
View 2 suburbs in this precinct
All these suburbs share the same crime statistics because SAPS reports data at precinct level.
Crime volume
Very High
in Eastern Cape · High nationally
Reported crimes
2,256
Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · Full year
vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
↑ 25%
more crimes vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
vs pre-COVID baseline
↑ 14.3%
above 2018-2019
Updated · SAPS Q4 2025-26 release
Crime in Butterworth rose 25% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025.
What's changing?
Biggest changes vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
Stock-theft dropped significantly (-17) while All theft not mentioned elsewhere increased (+107).
All theft not mentioned elsewhere+107
Malicious damage+72
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs+68
Drug-related crime+57
Crime trend by year
Crime breakdown
Top reported offences in 2025-2026
| Crime category | Reported count |
|---|---|
| Serious assault | 312 |
| All theft not mentioned elsewhere | 308 |
| Common assault | 255 |
| Residential burglary | 187 |
| Malicious damage | 171 |
| Commercial crime | 137 |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs | 117 |
| Drug-related crime | 94 |
View full crime breakdown table
| Category | 2025-2026 | 2024-2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serious assault | 312 | 313 | -1 |
| All theft not mentioned elsewhere | 308 | 201 | +107 |
| Common assault | 255 | 200 | +55 |
| Residential burglary | 187 | 154 | +33 |
| Malicious damage | 171 | 99 | +72 |
| Commercial crime | 137 | 135 | +2 |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs | 117 | 49 | +68 |
| Drug-related crime | 94 | 37 | +57 |
| Aggravated robbery | 91 | 91 | 0 |
| Carjacking | 7 | 8 | -1 |
| Truck hijacking | 2 | 1 | +1 |
| Robbery at residential premises | 11 | 20 | -9 |
| Robbery at non-residential premises | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| Robbery of cash in transit | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bank robbery | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Components of aggravated robbery above, already counted in that total. Not additional crimes. SAPS reports these both individually and within the aggravated-robbery figure. | |||
| Rape | 80 | 74 | +6 |
| Crimen injuria | 71 | 59 | +12 |
| Common robbery | 67 | 47 | +20 |
| Business burglary | 64 | 69 | -5 |
| Theft from vehicle | 63 | 45 | +18 |
| Murder | 39 | 48 | -9 |
| Shoplifting | 39 | 34 | +5 |
| Stock-theft | 35 | 52 | -17 |
| Attempted murder | 32 | 25 | +7 |
| Culpable homicide | 22 | 15 | +7 |
| Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| Kidnapping | 13 | 9 | +4 |
| Attempted sexual offences | 10 | 8 | +2 |
| Vehicle theft | 10 | 9 | +1 |
| Arson | 8 | 6 | +2 |
| Neglect and ill-treatment of children | 8 | 4 | +4 |
| Sexual assault | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Public violence | 2 | 0 | +2 |
| Abduction | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Contact sexual offences | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Sexual offences detected as a result of police action | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Compare with nearby areas
Other precincts in Amathole
Sorted by total reported crimes (lowest first)
See Butterworth on the national crime map
View this precinct's boundary in context, with a year-by-year timeline back to 2013/14 and every other Eastern Cape precinct around it.
Open Butterworth on the crime map →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about crime in Butterworth
The Butterworth SAPS precinct recorded 2,256 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, up 25% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025. The largest categories were Serious assault (312), All theft not mentioned elsewhere (308), Common assault (255). These are whole-precinct raw counts of reported crime, not adjusted for population.
The Butterworth SAPS precinct recorded 2,256 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026 — up 25% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025. 39 murders were reported. It sits in the "Very High" crime-volume tier for Eastern Cape precincts. SafeSuburb presents SAPS figures as published — we do not rate precincts safe or unsafe. SAPS reports crime at precinct level, not per suburb, so every suburb in this precinct shares the same data.
The Butterworth SAPS precinct reported 2,256 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026. Crime is up 25% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025.
Crime in the Butterworth SAPS precinct has increased 25% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025. The precinct reported 2,256 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, compared to the same period in the previous financial year.
The most frequently reported crime category in the Butterworth SAPS precinct is Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
The Butterworth SAPS precinct covers: Butterworth, Ibika. All these suburbs share the same crime statistics because SAPS reports data at precinct level, not per suburb.
Check another area
Data Sources & Notes
- Crime data: SAPS quarterly crime statistics
- SAPS data reflects reported crime only. Crime reporting rates vary by area. How much crime goes unreported? →
- This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for safety or property decisions. Full disclaimer
- Full methodology →