Cape Town Central tops national crime list as serious offences rise

Cape Town Central Police Station has been ranked number one in the country for community-reported serious crimes.

According to the crime statistics for the third quarter of the current financial year, six other Western Cape suburbs also feature in the top 30 on the same list.

While the province recorded a slight decrease in murders, there have been marked increases in several other serious crime categories. Between October and December 2025, the Western Cape recorded 1,157 murders, a decrease of 41 cases compared to the same period last year.

However, the latest quarterly data reveals a troubling rise in:

Attempted murders

Sexual offences

Community-reported serious crimes

The statistics highlight specific areas under pressure. Cape Town Central, Mfuleni, Delft, Mitchells Plain, Kraaifontein, Nyanga, and Worcester police stations all remain on the national "Top 30" list for serious crimes.

ALSO READ: WC crime stats: Murder sees slight decrease but attempted murders, sexual offences up

"We note with concern some policing precincts feature on the national top-thirty hotspot stations," said Western Cape Provincial Commissioner, Thembisile Patekile.

"With vigour, we commit to do even more to ensure that Western Cape communities are safe."

In a move to bolster the province's policing capacity, Commissioner Patekile welcomed back more than 60 experienced detectives to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

These officers are tasked specifically with investigating and resolving the backlog of unsolved cases across the province.