Honeydew ranks among SA’s worst for residential robberies

Honeydew has ranked among South Africa’s top 25 precincts for several serious crimes, with new police statistics revealing high levels of violent crime, rape, residential robberies and car hijackings during the first three months of 2026.

Preliminary crime statistics for January to March show Honeydew ranked 20th nationally for contact crimes and 22nd for rape cases, while car hijackings placed the precinct 15th in the country with 32 reported incidents.

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According to the South African Police Service report, contact crimes – which include murder, attempted murder, sexual offences, assault and robbery – recorded 473 cases during the reporting period.

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Residential crime also remained a concern, with robbery at residential premises ranking fifth nationally and 14th overall. Although burglaries at homes declined, residential robberies increased, indicating a shift in criminal activity rather than an overall crime reduction.

Honeydew Community Policing Forum (CPF) public relations officer Michael Steyn said the precinct’s large geographical area and diverse population continued to present policing challenges, making it important to assess trends over a longer period rather than focusing solely on quarterly fluctuations.

He noted that several crime categories had shown improvement over the past five years due to sustained interventions and collaboration between law enforcement, private security companies and community stakeholders.

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Steyn added that violent crimes, including sexual offences, are often linked to broader social challenges such as substance abuse and domestic violence, while ongoing liquor outlet inspections and awareness campaigns form part of efforts to address these issues.

“Although carjacking figures showed a slight decrease, incidents along major routes such as the N1 corridor remain a concern, with SAPS and private security continuing joint operations. Authorities also recorded 151 cases of theft out of motor vehicles, stressing that many incidents are preventable and urging residents to avoid leaving valuables visible in parked cars,” Steyn said.

While some crime categories showed modest improvements, overall levels of violent and residential crime remain high, underlining the need for continued co-operation between police, private security and residents to achieve sustained crime reduction.