Despatch Crime Statistics
Nelson Mandela Bay|1 suburb
How much crime was reported in Despatch?
The Despatch SAPS precinct recorded 1,030 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, down 6% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025.
High volume for Eastern CapeModerate 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 Despatch precinct area.
- 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 Despatch compares to other Eastern Cape precincts vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025 → Crime by precinct in Nelson Mandela Bay → See how Gqeberha suburbs rank →
Crime volume
High
in Eastern Cape · Moderate nationally
Reported crimes
1,030
Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · Full year
vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
↓ 6%
fewer crimes vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
vs pre-COVID baseline
→ 1.5%
in line with 2018-2019
Updated · SAPS Q4 2025-26 release
Crime in Despatch decreased 6% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025, though crime levels remain high relative to other precincts.
What's changing?
Biggest changes vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
Commercial crime dropped significantly (-57) while Drug-related crime increased (+25).
Commercial crime-57
All theft not mentioned elsewhere-27
Drug-related crime+25
Common assault-22
Crime trend by year
Crime breakdown
Top reported offences in 2025-2026
| Crime category | Reported count |
|---|---|
| All theft not mentioned elsewhere | 172 |
| Residential burglary | 134 |
| Drug-related crime | 119 |
| Commercial crime | 100 |
| Malicious damage | 75 |
| Common assault | 70 |
| Aggravated robbery | 70 |
| Carjacking | 7 |
| Truck hijacking | 3 |
| Robbery at residential premises | 24 |
| Robbery at non-residential premises | 9 |
| Robbery of cash in transit | 0 |
| Bank robbery | 0 |
| Components of aggravated robbery above, already counted in that total. Not additional crimes. | |
| Serious assault | 55 |
View full crime breakdown table
| Category | 2025-2026 | 2024-2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All theft not mentioned elsewhere | 172 | 199 | -27 |
| Residential burglary | 134 | 120 | +14 |
| Drug-related crime | 119 | 94 | +25 |
| Commercial crime | 100 | 157 | -57 |
| Malicious damage | 75 | 63 | +12 |
| Common assault | 70 | 92 | -22 |
| Aggravated robbery | 70 | 64 | +6 |
| Carjacking | 7 | 14 | -7 |
| Truck hijacking | 3 | 10 | -7 |
| Robbery at residential premises | 24 | 10 | +14 |
| Robbery at non-residential premises | 9 | 2 | +7 |
| 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. | |||
| Serious assault | 55 | 61 | -6 |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs | 37 | 32 | +5 |
| Theft from vehicle | 33 | 45 | -12 |
| Business burglary | 31 | 20 | +11 |
| Rape | 29 | 17 | +12 |
| Murder | 28 | 34 | -6 |
| Culpable homicide | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| Vehicle theft | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| Attempted murder | 11 | 20 | -9 |
| Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition | 9 | 10 | -1 |
| Common robbery | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Shoplifting | 8 | 13 | -5 |
| Kidnapping | 7 | 1 | +6 |
| Sexual assault | 3 | 7 | -4 |
| Public violence | 2 | 0 | +2 |
| Arson | 1 | 2 | -1 |
| Attempted sexual offences | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Crimen injuria | 1 | 4 | -3 |
| Stock-theft | 1 | 6 | -5 |
| Abduction | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Contact sexual offences | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Neglect and ill-treatment of children | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sexual offences detected as a result of police action | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Compare with nearby areas
Other precincts in Nelson Mandela Bay
Sorted by total reported crimes (lowest first)
See Despatch 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 Despatch on the crime map →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about crime in Despatch
The Despatch SAPS precinct recorded 1,030 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, down 6% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025. The largest categories were All theft not mentioned elsewhere (172), Residential burglary (134), Drug-related crime (119). These are whole-precinct raw counts of reported crime, not adjusted for population.
The Despatch SAPS precinct recorded 1,030 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026 — down 6% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025. 28 murders were reported. It sits in the "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 Despatch SAPS precinct reported 1,030 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026. Crime is down 6% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025.
Crime in the Despatch SAPS precinct has decreased 6% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025. The precinct reported 1,030 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, compared to the same period in the previous financial year.
The most frequently reported crime category in the Despatch SAPS precinct is All theft not mentioned elsewhere.
The Despatch SAPS precinct covers: Despatch. 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 →