Swellendam Crime Statistics
Overberg|1 suburb
How much crime was reported in Swellendam?
The Swellendam SAPS precinct recorded 2,274 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, up 21.9% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025.
Moderate volume for Western CapeHigh nationally
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 Swellendam 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 Swellendam compares to other Western Cape precincts vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025 → Crime by precinct in Overberg →
Crime volume
Moderate
in Western Cape · High nationally
Reported crimes
2,274
Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · Full year
vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
↑ 21.9%
more crimes vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
vs pre-COVID baseline
↑ 35.3%
above 2018-2019
Updated · SAPS Q4 2025-26 release
Crime in Swellendam rose 21.9% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025.
What's changing?
Biggest changes vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025
Business burglary dropped significantly (-31) while Drug-related crime increased (+160).
Drug-related crime+160
All theft not mentioned elsewhere+89
Common assault+59
Residential burglary+50
Crime trend by year
Crime breakdown
Top reported offences in 2025-2026
| Crime category | Reported count |
|---|---|
| Drug-related crime | 535 |
| All theft not mentioned elsewhere | 366 |
| Common assault | 273 |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs | 176 |
| Residential burglary | 171 |
| Serious assault | 147 |
| Commercial crime | 136 |
| Malicious damage | 117 |
View full crime breakdown table
| Category | 2025-2026 | 2024-2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug-related crime | 535 | 375 | +160 |
| All theft not mentioned elsewhere | 366 | 277 | +89 |
| Common assault | 273 | 214 | +59 |
| Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs | 176 | 176 | 0 |
| Residential burglary | 171 | 121 | +50 |
| Serious assault | 147 | 116 | +31 |
| Commercial crime | 136 | 118 | +18 |
| Malicious damage | 117 | 88 | +29 |
| Crimen injuria | 98 | 66 | +32 |
| Business burglary | 65 | 96 | -31 |
| Theft from vehicle | 47 | 56 | -9 |
| Rape | 25 | 20 | +5 |
| Attempted murder | 21 | 22 | -1 |
| Shoplifting | 20 | 31 | -11 |
| Aggravated robbery | 15 | 24 | -9 |
| Carjacking | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Truck hijacking | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Robbery at residential premises | 2 | 1 | +1 |
| Robbery at non-residential premises | 3 | 13 | -10 |
| 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. | |||
| Common robbery | 14 | 15 | -1 |
| Murder | 13 | 11 | +2 |
| Stock-theft | 6 | 7 | -1 |
| Attempted sexual offences | 5 | 4 | +1 |
| Culpable homicide | 5 | 6 | -1 |
| Sexual assault | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Arson | 3 | 5 | -2 |
| Kidnapping | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Public violence | 2 | 1 | +1 |
| Vehicle theft | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Neglect and ill-treatment of children | 1 | 0 | +1 |
| Abduction | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Contact sexual offences | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| Sexual offences detected as a result of police action | 0 | 1 | -1 |
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Compare with nearby areas
Other precincts in Overberg
Sorted by total reported crimes (lowest first)
See Swellendam 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 Western Cape precinct around it.
Open Swellendam on the crime map →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about crime in Swellendam
The Swellendam SAPS precinct recorded 2,274 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, up 21.9% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025. The largest categories were Drug-related crime (535), All theft not mentioned elsewhere (366), Common assault (273). These are whole-precinct raw counts of reported crime, not adjusted for population.
The Swellendam SAPS precinct recorded 2,274 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026 — up 21.9% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025. 13 murders were reported. It sits in the "Moderate" crime-volume tier for Western 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 Swellendam SAPS precinct reported 2,274 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026. Crime is up 21.9% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025.
Crime in the Swellendam SAPS precinct has increased 21.9% vs Apr 2024–Mar 2025. The precinct reported 2,274 crimes in Apr 2025–Mar 2026, compared to the same period in the previous financial year.
The most frequently reported crime category in the Swellendam SAPS precinct is Drug-related crime.
The Swellendam SAPS precinct covers: Swellendam. 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 →