The latest crime statistics from the South African Police Service (SAPS) for Mpumalanga show an overall decline in reported crime throughout Gert Sibande District, but sexual offences and commercial crime recorded a noticeable increase during the reporting period.
These statistics compare crime in the District for October–December 2025 with the same period in 2024.
According to the statistics, community-reported serious crimes in the district decreased from 6,518 cases to 5,876, reflecting a 9.8% decrease. Contact crimes, which include offences such as murder, assault and robbery, also declined significantly, dropping from 2,778 cases to 2,357. Notable decreases were recorded in assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, common assault, robbery with aggravating circumstances, and murder.
Property-related crimes also recorded a decline, decreasing from 1,781 cases to 1,570. Residential burglary dropped by 95 cases, while burglaries at non-residential premises declined by 51 cases. Stock theft, which often affects rural farming communities in the district, also decreased by 51 cases during the reporting period.
However, the statistics show a concerning rise in sexual offences, which increased from 285 to 349 cases, representing a 22.5% increase. Rape accounted for the majority of this rise, increasing by 61 cases during the quarter. Commercial crime also increased during the same period, standing out as one of the categories that recorded growth despite the overall decline in crime across the district.