Thembalethu Crime Statistics

Thembalethu, Garden Route, Western Cape — Latest SAPS Crime Data

F9/100

Very High Risk

Total Crimes

2,350

+15.6% vs 2024

Crime Rate

7,847

per 100k

Safety Score

9/100

Grade F — Very High Risk

Population

39,927

Crime Breakdown — Thembalethu (2025)

Crime Category	Group	Cases	% of Total
Drug-Related Crime	detected	592	25.2%
Common assault	contact	513	21.8%
Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm	contact	409	17.4%
Burglary at residential premises	property	276	11.7%
All theft not mentioned elsewhere	other-serious	215	9.1%
Malicious damage to property	contact-related	203	8.6%
Other aggravated robbery	other-serious	163	6.9%
Rape	contact	91	3.9%
Commercial Crime	other-serious	80	3.4%
Attempted murder	contact	73	3.1%
Common robbery	contact	68	2.9%
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs	detected	68	2.9%
Crimen Injuria	contact-related	65	2.8%
Theft out of or from motor vehicle	property	55	2.3%
Robbery at residential premises	contact	48	2.0%
Murder	contact	40	1.7%
Shoplifting	other-serious	37	1.6%
Robbery at non-residential premises	contact	24	1.0%
Sexual Assault	contact	21	0.9%
Arson	contact-related	15	0.6%
Stock Theft	property	12	0.5%
Theft of motor vehicle and motorcycle	property	12	0.5%
Burglary at non-residential premises	property	8	0.3%
Neglect and ill-treatment of children	contact	8	0.3%
Culpable homicide	other-serious	7	0.3%
Kidnapping	contact	7	0.3%
Attempted Sexual Offences	contact	5	0.2%
Contact Sexual Offences	contact	5	0.2%
Public violence	contact-related	5	0.2%
Carjacking	contact	4	0.2%
Illegal possession of firearms and ammunition	detected	4	0.2%
Abduction	contact	0	0.0%
Bank Robbery	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%
Truck hijacking	contact	0	0.0%

Thembalethu Crime Trend (2018-2025)

Thembalethu Crime Breakdown (2025)

Is Thembalethu Safe?

No, Thembalethu has high crime levels.

Thembalethu scores 9/100 on our safety index, earning a Grade F (Very High Risk). The crime rate in Thembalethu is 7,847 per 100,000 people, significantly above the national average. Take extra precautions in Thembalethu, particularly after dark, and be aware of the predominant crime types in the area.

vs National Average

+156%

Well above average

Year-on-Year

+15.6%

Crime increasing

Top Crime

Drug-Related Crime

25% of all crime

Rank in Garden Route

17/21

Among highest risk

Crime breakdown in Thembalethu

In 2025, Thembalethu recorded 2,350 total crimes. The most prevalent crime in Thembalethu is Drug-Related Crime with 592 reported cases (25.2% of all crime in Thembalethu), followed by Common assault at 513 cases (21.8%) and Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm at 409 cases (17.4%).

Compared to 2024, crime in Thembalethu has increased by 15.6%, indicating a worsening trend for the Thembalethu area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common crimes in Thembalethu?

The most reported crimes in Thembalethu are Drug-Related Crime (592 cases), Common assault (513 cases), Assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm (409 cases). These figures are based on 2025 SAPS data.

How does Thembalethu compare to other areas in Garden Route?

Thembalethu has a crime rate of 7,847 per 100k. Compared to other precincts in Garden Route, De Rust is safer with a rate of 1,034 per 100k.

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Other Precincts in Garden Route

Precinct	Population	Crimes	Rate	Safety
De Rust	39,927	310	1,034	B (72)
Still Bay	39,927	441	1,473	C (62)
Calitzdorp	39,927	484	1,615	C (59)
Uniondale	39,927	535	1,786	C (56)
Riversdale	39,927	655	2,186	D (49)
Groot Brakrivier	39,927	667	2,227	D (48)
Dysselsdorp	39,927	724	2,417	D (45)
Heidelberg(C)	39,927	792	2,645	D (43)
Kwanokuthula	39,927	853	2,848	D (39)
Albertinia	39,927	889	2,968	D (38)