What it costs to live in the town where no crime was committed

In a handful of small towns, crime decreased to the point where no crimes were reported in the first quarter of 2026.

These towns erase the country’s reputation for violence and suggest South Africans could enjoy a safer life.

South Africa’s Safest Small Town

In the first quarter of 2026, Rhodes in the Eastern Cape highlands recorded zero crimes.

For 3 consecutive months between April and June 2026, the hamlet, perched on the Drakensberg mountain, was one of the safest places in the country.

The year before, it wasn’t as safe.

Over the same period in 2025, two crimes were committed in the area, according to data from the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Crime in Rhodes

When analysing the full year data from April 2025 to March 2026, the town reported 9 crimes.

Of these, stock theft accounted for 30% (3 crimes).

There were no residential burglaries in the 2025-2026 period and only 1 theft from a motor vehicle.

However, in the 2024-2025 period, there were 6 residential burglaries, 3 business burglaries, 1 drug-related crime, and 1 common assault.

For the full year ending March 2025, 20 crimes were recorded in this tiny village.

Crime statistics also don’t paint the full picture.

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), South Africans report 51.8% of residential burglaries.

More stock thefts go unreported.

Could that be the case in Rhodes, where every home is within walking distance of the police station?

Data suggests it’s likely, but the town’s design suggests otherwise.

Property in Rhodes

There are no burglar bars and no tall fences on properties.

But this has less to do with the lack of crime and more to do with the town being declared a Conservation Area in 1997.

The average sale price as of September 2026 is R900 000.

Currently, there are only 12 active listings.

Buyers can purchase a 535-square-metre plot starting at R170 000.

Seven other plots of the same size are available.

The most expensive listing is R400 000.

The price point is attractive, but building isn’t straightforward.

Buyers have to navigate strict rules.

According to the Rhodes Info Centre, newly built homes must meet the town’s by-laws and get approval from the Aesthetics Committee.

The approval process entails submitting preliminary sketches for the Committee to review and provide feedback.

Then, the buyer submits a second round of architectural sketches for approval.

The Committee sends the approved sketches to the municipality.

Buyers can skip that process by purchasing a home.

The cheapest listing is R950 000 for a 1-bedroom cottage.

Property Type	Average Price
1 bedroom	R950 000
2 bedroom	R1.95 million
3 bedroom	R2.3 million
Vacant land	R310 000

Other Zero Crime Towns

Rhodes isn’t the only town to achieve zero crimes in the first quarter of 2026.

Three other small towns and villages achieved the same feat.

Mbizeni, another town in the Eastern Cape, recorded no crimes.

In the North West, the village of Mokopong did the same.

And in the Northern Cape, close to the Namibian border, Noenieput clinched the coveted spot.

These are the only places in the country where residents reported no crimes for the three months ending June 2026.