Howick vs Pietermaritzburg: Crime Comparison
2025-2026 SAPS data
Howick had 2,316 fewer reported crimes than Pietermaritzburg (720 vs 3,036 — 76% difference).
Howick
Howick precinct
Total crimes
720
Apr–Dec 2025
vs Apr–Dec 2024
↑ 2% more crimes
Crime split
259 violent · 188 property · 273 other
9 murders
Most reported crime
Residential burglary (89)
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg precinct
Total crimes
3,036
Apr–Dec 2025
vs Apr–Dec 2024
↑ 8.1% more crimes
Crime split
1,089 violent · 421 property · 1,526 other
24 murders
Most reported crime
Common assault (321)
Crime trend over time
Dashed segments indicate years with fewer than 4 quarters of data.
At a glance
- Howick had 2,316 fewer reported crimes (720 vs 3,036)
- Most reported crime in Howick: Residential burglary · In Pietermaritzburg: Common assault
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Howick safer than Pietermaritzburg?
SafeSuburb presents official SAPS data — we don't make safety judgements. Howick had 2,316 fewer reported crimes than Pietermaritzburg (720 vs 3,036 — 76% difference). Browse the crime statistics above to draw your own conclusions.
What is the crime rate in Howick vs Pietermaritzburg?
Howick (Howick precinct) reported 720 serious crimes, while Pietermaritzburg (Pietermaritzburg precinct) reported 3,036 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.