JHB Central Precinct
Johannesburg|6 suburbs
How much crime was reported in the JHB Central precinct?
The JHB Central SAPS precinct recorded 9,349 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, down 3.3% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025.
Very High volume for Gauteng
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 JHB Central precinct area, and all 6 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 JHB Central compares to other Gauteng precincts vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025 → Crime by precinct in Johannesburg → See how Johannesburg suburbs rank →
View 6 suburbs in this precinct
All these suburbs share the same crime statistics because SAPS reports data at precinct level.
Crime volume
Very High
in Gauteng
Reported crimes
9,349
Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · Full year
vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
↓ 3.3%
fewer crimes vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
vs pre-COVID baseline
↓ 33.9%
below 2018-2019
Updated · SAPS Q4 2025-26 release
Crime in JHB Central decreased 3.3% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025, though crime levels remain very high relative to other precincts.
What's changing?
Biggest changes vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
All theft not mentioned elsewhere dropped significantly (-234) while Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs increased (+165).
All theft not mentioned elsewhere-234
Aggravated robbery-178
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs+165
Common assault-160
Crime trend by year
Crime breakdown
Top reported offences in 2025-2026
| Crime category | Reported count |
|---|---|
| Drug-related crime | 1,464 |
| Aggravated robbery | 1,142 |
| Carjacking | 77 |
| Truck hijacking | 3 |
| Robbery at residential premises | 15 |
| Robbery at non-residential premises | 124 |
| Robbery of cash in transit | 2 |
| Bank robbery | 0 |
| Components of aggravated robbery above, already counted in that total. Not additional crimes. | |
| Commercial crime | 985 |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs | 811 |
| All theft not mentioned elsewhere | 717 |
| Common robbery | 682 |
| Serious assault | 549 |
| Theft from vehicle | 411 |
View full crime breakdown table
| Category | 2025-2026 | 2024-2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug-related crime | 1,464 | 1,337 | +127 |
| Aggravated robbery | 1,142 | 1,320 | -178 |
| Carjacking | 77 | 127 | -50 |
| Truck hijacking | 3 | 8 | -5 |
| Robbery at residential premises | 15 | 16 | -1 |
| Robbery at non-residential premises | 124 | 182 | -58 |
| Robbery of cash in transit | 2 | 1 | +1 |
| 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. | |||
| Commercial crime | 985 | 897 | +88 |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs | 811 | 646 | +165 |
| All theft not mentioned elsewhere | 717 | 951 | -234 |
| Common robbery | 682 | 734 | -52 |
| Serious assault | 549 | 477 | +72 |
| Theft from vehicle | 411 | 541 | -130 |
| Common assault | 408 | 568 | -160 |
| Shoplifting | 390 | 388 | +2 |
| Sexual offences detected as a result of police action | 364 | 315 | +49 |
| Vehicle theft | 276 | 222 | +54 |
| Attempted murder | 216 | 130 | +86 |
| Malicious damage | 198 | 228 | -30 |
| Kidnapping | 195 | 187 | +8 |
| Business burglary | 151 | 204 | -53 |
| Murder | 106 | 164 | -58 |
| Rape | 98 | 96 | +2 |
| Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition | 87 | 90 | -3 |
| Residential burglary | 34 | 75 | -41 |
| Sexual assault | 18 | 33 | -15 |
| Crimen injuria | 16 | 17 | -1 |
| Culpable homicide | 13 | 27 | -14 |
| Neglect and ill-treatment of children | 11 | 9 | +2 |
| Attempted sexual offences | 3 | 6 | -3 |
| Arson | 2 | 0 | +2 |
| Public violence | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Abduction | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Contact sexual offences | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stock-theft | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Compare with nearby areas
Other precincts in Johannesburg
Sorted by total reported crimes (lowest first)
See JHB Central 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 Gauteng precinct around it.
Open JHB Central on the crime map →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about crime in JHB Central
The JHB Central SAPS precinct recorded 9,349 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, down 3.3% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025. The largest categories were Drug-related crime (1,464), Aggravated robbery (1,142), Commercial crime (985). These are whole-precinct raw counts of reported crime, not adjusted for population.
The JHB Central SAPS precinct recorded 9,349 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026 — down 3.3% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025. 106 murders were reported. It sits in the "Very High" crime-volume tier for Gauteng 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 JHB Central SAPS precinct reported 9,349 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026. Crime is down 3.3% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025.
Crime in the JHB Central SAPS precinct has decreased 3.3% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025. The precinct reported 9,349 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, compared to the same period in the previous financial year.
The most frequently reported crime category in the JHB Central SAPS precinct is Drug-related crime.
The JHB Central SAPS precinct covers: Ferreirasdorp, Fordsburg, Johannesburg CBD, Marshalltown, Newtown, Selby. 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 →