East London Crime Statistics
How much crime was reported in East London?
The Kugompo SAPS precinct, which covers East London, recorded 5,556 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, down 3.7% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025.
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, not per suburb. These figures cover the whole Kugompo precinct area, and every suburb in it shares them. Other suburbs: Kugompo.
- 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.
Crime volume
Very High
in Eastern Cape
Reported crimes
5,556
Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · Full year
vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
↓ 3.7%
fewer crimes vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
vs its pre-COVID level
↓ 22.7%
below 2018-2019
Updated · SAPS Q4 2025-26 release
Crime by type
Change vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025 by crime category. Murder is shown separately but is included in the violent crime total.
Murder
49
↑ 11.4% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
Violent crime
1,615
↓ 3.9% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
Property crime
1,287
↓ 10.2% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
Other (drug, commercial, theft)
2,654
→ 0% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
What's changing?
Biggest changes vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
Crime trend by year
Crime breakdown
Top reported offences in 2025-2026
| Crime category | Reported count |
|---|---|
| All theft not mentioned elsewhere | 834 |
| Theft from vehicle | 526 |
| Commercial crime | 495 |
| Serious assault | 471 |
| Common assault | 412 |
| Aggravated robbery | 406 |
| Drug-related crime | 372 |
| Business burglary | 370 |
Compare with nearby areas
Other precincts in Buffalo City
Sorted by total reported crimes (lowest first)
Compare East London
Side-by-side crime statistics with nearby suburbs
Other suburbs served by Kugompo police station
2 suburbs in this precinct share the same SAPS crime data
SAPS reports at precinct level — all suburbs below have identical crime statistics to East London.
View full Kugompo precinct overview →See East London's precinct on the crime map
View the precinct boundary in context, with a year-by-year timeline back to 2013/14 and surrounding precincts around it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about crime in East London
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 →
Economic Context
Property affordability is shaped by SA's broader economic environment.
- SA Repo Rate History →— how interest rates affect bond repayments
- Cost of Living: 2010 vs Now →— how purchasing power has changed