Middelburg Police Station has been ranked third in Mpumalanga for community-reported serious crimes, with Witbank Police Station taking the top spot in the province.

Witbank Police Station recorded an increase of 45 cases, with the Middelburg Police Station recording a decrease of 125 cases.

The Mpumalanga police released the first-quarter 2026/27 crime stats at the Mpumalanga Police Provincial Head Office in Mbombela yesterday (September 8).

The crime stats were released by the Mpumalanga police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nkaokoane Apaphia Modise, and Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Jackie Masie.

The report, which covers April to June, focuses on local crime trends.

Despite recording an overall 11.9% drop in serious crimes, Middelburg Police Station reported 926 cases, but the station saw sharp increases in specific violent categories, including being ranked first in the entire province for robberies at non-residential premises, which rose from 11 to 15 cases.

Truck hijacking, which logged six cases in the last three months, ranked the station eighth in South Africa.

The crime stats also revealed that kidnappings increased by five, reaching a total of 12 reported cases, placing the station sixth in the province and 113th nationally.

In the whole of the Steve Tshwete area, which comprises Middelburg, Mhluzi and Hendrina police stations, reported rape cases rose by 12 incidents to reach a total of 16.

The crime stats released highlighted concerns regarding violent crime across the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality.

Although overall serious crimes reported by the community decreased across several areas, specific violent offences and hotspot areas remain a primary concern for local officers.

Mhluzi records overall rise

Mhluzi Police Station recorded an overall 14.6% increase in community-reported serious crimes, rising from 260 cases during the same period last year to 298.

Contact crimes accounted for 119 of these cases, placing Mhluzi 23rd overall in the province.

The station logged three non-residential robberies and three carjackings, and also recorded four murder cases, which is a slight drop from six reported in the previous period.

Surge in Hendrina cases

Hendrina Police Station also experienced notable surges in violent offences over the three months.

Robberies at non-residential premises increased by four, bringing the total to nine cases and making Hendrina fifth in the province.

Furthermore, murder cases at the station rose from one to three reported incidents during the quarter.