Kestell Crime Statistics

Kestell, Thabo Mofutsanyana (Bethlehem), Free State — Latest SAPS Crime Data

B66/100

Safe

Total Crimes

262

+11.5% vs 2024

Crime Rate

1,301

per 100k

Safety Score

66/100

Grade B — Safe

Population

26,820

Crime Breakdown — Kestell (2025)

Crime Category	Group	Cases	% of Total
Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm	contact	49	18.7%
Drug-Related Crime	detected	47	17.9%
Burglary at residential premises	property	43	16.4%
Stock Theft	property	32	12.2%
All theft not mentioned elsewhere	other-serious	31	11.8%
Malicious damage to property	contact-related	21	8.0%
Common assault	contact	16	6.1%
Commercial Crime	other-serious	15	5.7%
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs	detected	15	5.7%
Theft out of or from motor vehicle	property	15	5.7%
Burglary at non-residential premises	property	13	5.0%
Culpable homicide	other-serious	8	3.1%
Sexual offences detected as a result of police action	detected	8	3.1%
Attempted murder	contact	7	2.7%
Murder	contact	7	2.7%
Crimen Injuria	contact-related	5	1.9%
Rape	contact	5	1.9%
Robbery at non-residential premises	contact	4	1.5%
Kidnapping	contact	3	1.1%
Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle	property	3	1.1%
Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition	detected	1	0.4%
Robbery at residential premises	contact	1	0.4%
Shoplifting	other-serious	1	0.4%
Abduction	contact	0	0.0%
Arson	contact-related	0	0.0%
Attempted Sexual Offences	contact	0	0.0%
Bank Robbery	contact	0	0.0%
Carjacking	contact	0	0.0%
Common robbery	contact	0	0.0%
Contact Sexual Offences	contact	0	0.0%
Neglect and ill-treatment of children	contact	0	0.0%
Other aggravated robbery	other-serious	0	0.0%
Public violence	contact-related	0	0.0%
Robbery of cash in transit	contact	0	0.0%
Sexual Assault	contact	0	0.0%
Truck hijacking	contact	0	0.0%

Kestell Crime Trend (2018-2025)

Kestell Crime Breakdown (2025)

Is Kestell Safe?

Yes, Kestell is relatively safe.

Kestell scores 66/100 on our safety index, earning a Grade B (Safe). With a crime rate of 1,301 per 100,000 people, Kestell sits well below the national average. Residents and visitors in Kestell can generally feel secure, though standard urban precautions still apply.

vs National Average

-58%

Well below average

Year-on-Year

+11.5%

Crime increasing

Top Crime

Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm

19% of all crime

Rank in Thabo Mofutsanyana (Bethlehem)

12/31

Mid-range

Crime breakdown in Kestell

In 2025, Kestell recorded 262 total crimes. The most prevalent crime in Kestell is Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm with 49 reported cases (18.7% of all crime in Kestell), followed by Drug-Related Crime at 47 cases (17.9%) and Burglary at residential premises at 43 cases (16.4%).

Compared to 2024, crime in Kestell has increased by 11.5%, indicating a worsening trend for the Kestell area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common crimes in Kestell?

The most reported crimes in Kestell are Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm (49 cases), Drug-Related Crime (47 cases), Burglary at residential premises (43 cases). These figures are based on 2025 SAPS data.

How does Kestell compare to other areas in Thabo Mofutsanyana (Bethlehem)?

Kestell has a crime rate of 1,301 per 100k. Compared to other precincts in Thabo Mofutsanyana (Bethlehem), Roadside is safer with a rate of 34 per 100k.

Embed This Badge

Add a Kestell safety badge to your website or blog. Copy the code below and paste it into your HTML.

Embed Code

<a href="https://safetybrief.co.za/province/free-state/thabo-mofutsanyana/kestell"><img src="https://safetybrief.co.za/api/badge/kestell" alt="Kestell Safety Score" /></a>

Other Precincts in Thabo Mofutsanyana (Bethlehem)

Precinct	Population	Crimes	Rate	Safety
Roadside	26,820	7	34	A (100)
Verkykerskop	26,820	14	71	A (99)
Kommissiepoort	26,820	59	295	A (91)
Hobhouse	26,820	66	328	A (91)
Rosendal	26,820	107	533	A (84)
Excelsior	26,820	109	541	A (84)
Memel	26,820	112	556	A (84)
Tweespruit	26,820	134	667	A (81)
Arlington	26,820	172	854	B (77)
Paul Roux	26,820	245	1,219	B (68)