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Empangeni vs Richards Bay: Crime Comparison

2025-2026 SAPS data

Richards Bay had 1,638 fewer reported crimes than Empangeni (2,537 vs 4,175 — 39% 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

4,175

Apr–Dec 2025

vs Apr–Dec 2024

↑ 3.9% more crimes

Crime split

1,938 violent · 904 property · 1,333 other

64 murders

Most reported crime

Common assault (628)

Richards Bay

Richards Bay precinct

Total crimes

2,537

Apr–Dec 2025

vs Apr–Dec 2024

↑ 3.4% more crimes

Crime split

794 violent · 637 property · 1,106 other

14 murders

Most reported crime

Residential burglary (284)

Crime trend over time

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

At a glance

  • Richards Bay had 1,638 fewer reported crimes (2,537 vs 4,175)
  • Most reported crime in Empangeni: Common assault · In Richards Bay: Residential burglary

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Empangeni safer than Richards Bay?

SafeSuburb presents official SAPS data — we don't make safety judgements. Richards Bay had 1,638 fewer reported crimes than Empangeni (2,537 vs 4,175 — 39% 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 4,175 serious crimes, while Richards Bay (Richards Bay precinct) reported 2,537 serious 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.