Crime dropped 10% in Cape Town’s most dangerous suburb

Most precincts reported more crime in the three months ending June 2026 than they reported in the three months ending June 2025,

Despite this, crime in a handful of the city’s most dangerous areas declined.

Manenberg on the Cape Flats is one such area.

Gang-ridden Suburb Safer Than Before

Hidden within South African Police Service (SAPS) data is a massive victory: Manenberg, once considered the city’s deadliest suburb, is safer.

In the first quarter, crime dropped 10% compared to the same period in 2025.

Between April and June 2026, SAPS recorded 1 178 crimes. Over the same period last year, 1 308 crimes were reported.

The most common crime, according to SAPS statistics, is drug-related.

In the first quarter, 363 such crimes were reported.

All thefts not mentioned elsewhere, malicious damage, and common assault are the next most common categories.

Crime in Manenberg has been steadily decreasing over the last decade.

In 2014-2015, 8 681 crimes were reported.

By the end of March 2026, the suburb only reported 5 132 crimes.

The suburb is also no longer the city’s deadliest.

Manenberg doesn’t feature in the top 15 police precincts for murder.

The area even has fewer murders than areas often considered safer.

As of June 2026, Manenberg had fewer murders (14) than Milnerton (27).

Cape Town’s Dangerous Suburbs Becoming Safer

Manenberg isn’t alone.

A handful of other police precincts in dangerous areas have also had crime decrease.

Crime in Lentegeur is down 5.1%.

In Nyanga, crime is down 4%.

In Lwandle and Samora Machel, crime is down 16.3% and 18% respectively.

Unfortunately, these trends haven’t been widespread.

In 36 of Cape Town’s 63 police precincts, crime has worsened.

The most recent crime data means the city has a 5.16% crime rate.

Cape Town is also home to the police precinct reporting the most crime: Cape Town Central.

In areas like Table View, crime is up 5.7%. Sea Point is up 10.5%.

Between April and June of this year, Sea Point reported the same number of residential burglaries as Lentegeur, Lwandle, and Manenberg.

Likewise, Table View recorded more aggravated robberies than Lwandle, Lentegeur, and Manenberg.