Burglaries make this the worst town to do business in South Africa

The city with the most business burglaries isn’t Johannesburg or Cape Town.

Instead, it’s the police precinct that covers Bloemfontein.

The Park Road police precinct reported the most burglaries in the first quarter.

South Africa’s business burglary capital

Business burglaries in one city are nearly double those in major metros.

Park Road, which covers Bloemfontein Central Business District (CBD), reported 125 business burglaries in the first quarter.

That’s 92.3% more than it recorded over the same three-month period the year before.

During the first quarter, major protests took place throughout the country. Multiple businesses were looted.

However, crime in Park Road is trending upward and rose 14.8% in the first quarter.

The crimes with the most increase include drug-related crime, which rose 15.4%; all theft not mentioned elsewhere rose 5.6%; and residential burglary rose 28.3%.

Shoplifting and commercial crime also feature in the top 10 crimes reported in Park Road.

The next police precinct with the most business burglaries is KuGompo City in the Eastern Cape.

Between April and June, the police precinct reported 83, up 5.1% from the same time last year.

Gauteng is the province recording the most business burglaries, with the crime up 5.5% in the first quarter.

Temba in Tshwane reports the most burglaries, with 60 in the first quarter.

Next is Midrand, with 57 burglaries in the first quarter.

In KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg reported the most business burglaries, with 52.

George in the Western Cape recorded the most such crimes in the province.

In the first quarter, the town reported 49 burglaries, followed by Oudtshoorn, which reported 48.

The most shocking statistics are in Kimberley.

In a town with 1 383 businesses, 68 burglaries were reported, up from 39 in the first quarter of 2025.

The Impact of stealing from businesses

Business burglaries place South Africa’s small, medium, and micro enterprises at risk.

Many businesses are underinsured and could struggle to replace stock after a burglary, according to Santam.

But the cost of doing business also rises after a burglary.

Typically, insurance premiums will rise.

Not only because of the claim, but also because such a sharp increase in robberies will raise the area’s risk profile.

Small businesses in South Africa are already suffering under harsh economic conditions.

According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) business insolvency data, 20 individuals and partnerships became insolvent in the Free State year-to-date.

In the three months when SAPS recorded 10 717 business burglaries, 408 individuals and partnerships became insolvent in the country.