Upper Tugela Crime Statistics

Upper Tugela, Uthukela (Ladysmith), KwaZulu-Natal — Latest SAPS Crime Data

A82/100

Very Safe

Total Crimes

240

-15.2% vs 2024

Crime Rate

649

per 100k

Safety Score

82/100

Grade A — Very Safe

Population

49,318

Crime Breakdown — Upper Tugela (2025)

Crime Category	Group	Cases	% of Total
Stock Theft	property	84	35.0%
Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm	contact	72	30.0%
Burglary at residential premises	property	24	10.0%
All theft not mentioned elsewhere	other-serious	21	8.8%
Common assault	contact	21	8.8%
Murder	contact	19	7.9%
Malicious damage to property	contact-related	16	6.7%
Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition	detected	12	5.0%
Crimen Injuria	contact-related	8	3.3%
Sexual Assault	contact	8	3.3%
Attempted murder	contact	4	1.7%
Burglary at non-residential premises	property	4	1.7%
Common robbery	contact	4	1.7%
Culpable homicide	other-serious	4	1.7%
Arson	contact-related	3	1.3%
Commercial Crime	other-serious	3	1.3%
Other aggravated robbery	other-serious	3	1.3%
Rape	contact	3	1.3%
Robbery at non-residential premises	contact	3	1.3%
Attempted Sexual Offences	contact	1	0.4%
Kidnapping	contact	1	0.4%
Neglect and ill-treatment of children	contact	1	0.4%
Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle	property	1	0.4%
Abduction	contact	0	0.0%
Bank Robbery	contact	0	0.0%
Carjacking	contact	0	0.0%
Contact Sexual Offences	contact	0	0.0%
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs	detected	0	0.0%
Drug-Related Crime	detected	0	0.0%
Public violence	contact-related	0	0.0%
Robbery at residential premises	contact	0	0.0%
Robbery of cash in transit	contact	0	0.0%
Sexual offences detected as a result of police action	detected	0	0.0%
Shoplifting	other-serious	0	0.0%
Theft out of or from motor vehicle	property	0	0.0%
Truck hijacking	contact	0	0.0%

Upper Tugela Crime Trend (2018-2025)

Upper Tugela Crime Breakdown (2025)

Is Upper Tugela Safe?

Yes, Upper Tugela is relatively safe.

Upper Tugela scores 82/100 on our safety index, earning a Grade A (Very Safe). With a crime rate of 649 per 100,000 people, Upper Tugela sits well below the national average. Residents and visitors in Upper Tugela can generally feel secure, though standard urban precautions still apply.

vs National Average

-79%

Well below average

Year-on-Year

-15.2%

Crime decreasing

Top Crime

Stock Theft

35% of all crime

Rank in Uthukela (Ladysmith)

3/16

Among safest

Crime breakdown in Upper Tugela

In 2025, Upper Tugela recorded 240 total crimes. The most prevalent crime in Upper Tugela is Stock Theft with 84 reported cases (35.0% of all crime in Upper Tugela), followed by Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm at 72 cases (30.0%) and Burglary at residential premises at 24 cases (10.0%).

Compared to 2024, crime in Upper Tugela has decreased by 15.2%, a positive sign for the Upper Tugela community.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common crimes in Upper Tugela?

The most reported crimes in Upper Tugela are Stock Theft (84 cases), Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm (72 cases), Burglary at residential premises (24 cases). These figures are based on 2025 SAPS data.

How does Upper Tugela compare to other areas in Uthukela (Ladysmith)?

Upper Tugela has a crime rate of 649 per 100k. Compared to other precincts in Uthukela (Ladysmith), Van Reenen is safer with a rate of 349 per 100k.

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Other Precincts in Uthukela (Ladysmith)

Precinct	Population	Crimes	Rate	Safety
Van Reenen	49,318	129	349	A (90)
Weenen	49,318	233	631	A (82)
Colenso	49,318	282	762	B (78)
Elandslaagte	49,318	317	858	B (76)
Ematsheni	49,318	333	900	B (75)
Wembezi	49,318	344	931	B (75)
Winterton	49,318	364	983	B (73)
Besters	49,318	369	998	B (73)
Amangwe	49,318	461	1,247	B (67)
Ntabamhlophe	49,318	499	1,348	B (65)