Skip to main content
SafeSuburb logo SafeSuburb

Empangeni vs Richards Bay: Crime Comparison

2026-2027 SAPS data

Richards Bay had 340 fewer reported crimes than Empangeni (1,166 vs 1,506 — 23% difference).

Precinct-level data
This comparison uses police precinct data from SAPS. Crime figures cover the entire precinct area, which may extend beyond the named suburb.

Empangeni

Empangeni precinct

Total crimes

1,506

Apr–Jun 2026

vs Apr–Jun 2025

↓ 3.6% fewer crimes

Crime split

572 violent · 276 property · 658 other

26 murders

Most reported crime

Common assault (205)

Richards Bay

Richards Bay precinct

Total crimes

1,166

Apr–Jun 2026

vs Apr–Jun 2025

↑ 2.8% more crimes

Crime split

282 violent · 201 property · 683 other

6 murders

Most reported crime

Common assault (96)

Crime trend over time

Dashed segments indicate years with fewer than 4 quarters of data.

At a glance

  • Richards Bay had 340 fewer reported crimes (1,166 vs 1,506)
  • Empangeni is improving while Richards Bay is worsening
  • Most reported crime in Empangeni: Common assault · In Richards Bay: Common assault

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Empangeni safer than Richards Bay?

SafeSuburb presents official SAPS data — we don't make safety judgements. Richards Bay had 340 fewer reported crimes than Empangeni (1,166 vs 1,506 — 23% difference). Browse the crime statistics above to draw your own conclusions.

What is the crime rate in Empangeni vs Richards Bay?

Empangeni (Empangeni precinct) reported 1,506 crimes, while Richards Bay (Richards Bay precinct) reported 1,166 crimes. Note: these are precinct-level figures from SAPS, not suburb-specific counts.

Crime data from SAPS quarterly statistics. Methodology · Disclaimer

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for safety or property decisions.