The retirement-friendly town with 46 crimes a year and homes for R650 000

For most South Africans, avoiding crime is a part of life. Those who can afford it are willing to pay for safety.

In one of South Africa’s safest coastal suburbs, Melkbosstrand, the average home sells for R5.2 million.

But in a small town where 7 crimes were committed in three months, property is still affordable.

Safety in a Small Town

Between April 2025 and March 2026, Hogsback in the Eastern Cape, which has its own police precinct, reported 46 crimes.

The most recent South African Police Service (SAPS) data shows 7 crimes were committed in the town in the first quarter of 2026.

The town has a 2.45% crime rate.

Most of the crime in the town is theft.

According to SAPS data, it’s “all thefts not mentioned elsewhere.”

This excludes residential and commercial burglary and theft of or out of a motor vehicle.

These statistics reflect the town’s increasing safety.

Crime in the town is trending downward.

In the last 10 years, crime decreased by 44.4%.

Between the first quarter of 2026 and the same period last year, there have been 2 (22%) fewer crimes.

Crimes Committed in Hogsback

These are some of the crimes reported in Hogsback between April 2025 and March 2026.

Crime	Amount
Theft (not mentioned elsewhere)	14
Residential burglary	5
Serious assault	5
Commercial crime	5
Theft from vehicle	2
Stock theft	1

Property in Hogsback

Getting onto the property ladder in Hogsback isn’t as affordable as the rest of the Eastern Cape, where the average selling price is R1 million.

According to Property24 data, as of August 2026, the town’s average sale price is R1.35 million.

Sellers want at least R1.3 million for a modest 3-bedroom home.

But buyers willing to live off-grid could get 2.8 hectares of lush green land for R900 000.

That’s the price of an unserviced plot on Plaatjieskraal Road on the outskirts of Hogsback.

Rates and taxes on a plot of this size are R1 020.

Property Type	Average Sale Price	Starting Price (August 2026)
Farm	R1.78 million	R750 000
1 bedroom	R975 000	R650 000
2 bedroom	R1.75 million	R1.35 million
3 bedroom	R2.3 million	R1.3 million

Life in Hogsback

Hogsback in the Amathole district of the Eastern Cape is picturesque.

Still lush and green despite the province’s recent drought.

The community enjoying this mountainside area is made up of 1 756 residents as of the 2022 census.

Retirees seem drawn to the region.

Buyers over 50 purchase most of the property on the market.

They make up 80% of buyers, and 82.5% of owners.

For these retirees exploring the indigenous forests and waterfalls, horseback riding, bird watching, and scenic views are a part of daily life.

The natural surroundings could be partly responsible for the town’s lower crime rates.

According to a 2023 analysis published in ScienceDirect, there are links between green spaces and fewer violent crimes.

But the crime rate may also be the result of having one major road linking the town to surrounding areas.