Common Assault in the Eastern Cape
SAPS definition: “Common Assault is the unlawful and intentional – a) Direct and indirect application of force to the body of another person, or b) Threat of application of immediate personal violence to another, in circumstances in which the threatened person is prevailed upon to believe that the person who is threatening him has the intention and power to carry out his threat.” — SAPS Crime Definitions (2012), as published by the Institute for Security Studies.
SAPS recorded 3,453 common assault cases across 185 Eastern Cape precincts in Apr–Jun 2026, stable vs Apr–Jun 2025.
Latest quarter (Apr–Jun 2026): 3,453 common assault cases, roughly unchanged vs Apr–Jun 2025.
Ranked by precinct below.
Most common assault reports come from Nelson Mandela Bay.
Note: Raw reported counts — not adjusted for population. Precincts serving more residents will naturally report more cases.
Is common assault rising or falling in Eastern Cape?
Dashed: Apr–Jun 2026 only (1 of 4 quarters published) — a partial year, not comparable with the full years before it.
Which Eastern Cape districts report the most common assault?
Bars coloured by direction vs the previous year: green = improved, red = worsened, grey = within ±2%. Sorted by Apr–Jun 2026 count.
Drill into a district:
Which Eastern Cape precincts report the most common assault?
| Precinct | District | Apr–Jun 2026 | vs Apr–Jun 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mthatha | OR Tambo | 134 | +27.6% |
| Bethelsdorp | Nelson Mandela Bay | 111 | -0.9% |
| Kugompo | Buffalo City | 96 | 0% |
| Mdantsane | Buffalo City | 84 | -32.8% |
| Joza | Sarah Baartman | 83 | -30.8% |
| Lusikisiki | OR Tambo | 77 | +8.5% |
| Kamesh | Nelson Mandela Bay | 76 | +85.4% |
| Cambridge | Buffalo City | 74 | +4.2% |
| Kabega Park | Nelson Mandela Bay | 74 | +37% |
| Butterworth | Amathole | 63 | +21.2% |
| Robert Sobukwe | Sarah Baartman | 55 | -28.6% |
| Makhanda | Sarah Baartman | 51 | -26.1% |
| Nxuba | Chris Hani | 50 | -31.5% |
| Humewood | Nelson Mandela Bay | 48 | -2% |
| Mlungisi | Chris Hani | 46 | -24.6% |
| Jeffreys Bay | Sarah Baartman | 44 | +780% |
| Komani | Chris Hani | 41 | +7.9% |
| Algoapark | Nelson Mandela Bay | 39 | -4.9% |
| Ntabankulu | Alfred Nzo | 39 | +30% |
| Kwanobuhle | Nelson Mandela Bay | 38 | +15.2% |
| Vulindlela | Buffalo City | 37 | -5.1% |
| Cacadu | Chris Hani | 36 | +33.3% |
| Mount Road | Nelson Mandela Bay | 36 | +16.1% |
| Qonce | Buffalo City | 36 | -5.3% |
| Sterkspruit | Joe Gqabi | 36 | -5.3% |
| Tsolo | OR Tambo | 36 | +89.5% |
| Walmer | Nelson Mandela Bay | 36 | -21.7% |
| Chatty | Nelson Mandela Bay | 35 | +34.6% |
| Dimbaza | Buffalo City | 35 | +75% |
| Libode | OR Tambo | 35 | -5.4% |
| KwaMaqoma | Amathole | 34 | -2.9% |
| Nqweba | Sarah Baartman | 34 | 0% |
| Centane | Amathole | 33 | +6.5% |
| Ezibeleni | Chris Hani | 33 | +57.1% |
| New Brighton | Nelson Mandela Bay | 33 | +6.5% |
| Ngqeleni | OR Tambo | 33 | -8.3% |
| Madeira | OR Tambo | 31 | 0% |
| Gelvandale | Nelson Mandela Bay | 30 | -3.2% |
| Kwadwesi | Nelson Mandela Bay | 30 | +25% |
| Matatiele | Alfred Nzo | 30 | +36.4% |
| Addo | Sarah Baartman | 28 | +21.7% |
| Alice | Amathole | 27 | +8% |
| Inyibiba | Buffalo City | 27 | +35% |
| Kwanojoli | Sarah Baartman | 27 | -10% |
| Mbizana | Alfred Nzo | 27 | +22.7% |
| Port St Johns | OR Tambo | 27 | +22.7% |
| Dutywa | Amathole | 26 | -7.1% |
| Stutterheim | Amathole | 26 | -21.2% |
| KwaBhaca | Alfred Nzo | 25 | +56.3% |
| Beacon Bay | Buffalo City | 24 | +71.4% |
| Buffalo Flats | Buffalo City | 23 | -11.5% |
| Joubertina | Sarah Baartman | 23 | -8% |
| Motherwell | Nelson Mandela Bay | 23 | -4.2% |
| Scenery Park | Buffalo City | 23 | +27.8% |
| Duncan Village | Buffalo City | 22 | 0% |
| Mqanduli | OR Tambo | 22 | -43.6% |
| Whittlesea | Chris Hani | 22 | -4.3% |
| Kwazakele | Nelson Mandela Bay | 21 | -16% |
| Nemato | Sarah Baartman | 20 | -20% |
| Zele | Buffalo City | 20 | +53.8% |
| Khowa | Chris Hani | 19 | +111.1% |
| Maloti | Alfred Nzo | 19 | +18.8% |
| Msobomvu | Amathole | 19 | +58.3% |
| Ndevana | Buffalo City | 19 | +90% |
| Ngangelizwe | OR Tambo | 19 | -42.4% |
| Willowmore | Sarah Baartman | 19 | +18.8% |
| Aliwal North | Joe Gqabi | 18 | -25% |
| Elliotdale | Amathole | 18 | -28% |
| Hankey | Sarah Baartman | 18 | +28.6% |
| Kariega | Nelson Mandela Bay | 18 | -10% |
| Keiskammahoek | Amathole | 18 | +80% |
| Kenton On Sea | Sarah Baartman | 18 | +12.5% |
| MaXesibeni | Alfred Nzo | 18 | -40% |
| Nqanqarhu | Joe Gqabi | 18 | +50% |
| Tlokoeng | Joe Gqabi | 18 | +12.5% |
| Tsomo | Chris Hani | 18 | +157.1% |
| Alicedale | Sarah Baartman | 17 | +112.5% |
| Humansdorp | Sarah Baartman | 17 | -5.6% |
| Zwelitsha | Buffalo City | 17 | 0% |
| Cala | Chris Hani | 16 | +33.3% |
| Middelburg (Eastern Cape) | Chris Hani | 16 | -38.5% |
| Patensie | Sarah Baartman | 16 | +33.3% |
| Paterson | Sarah Baartman | 16 | +128.6% |
| Ngcobo | Chris Hani | 15 | +7.1% |
| Adelaide | Amathole | 14 | +40% |
| Alexandria | Sarah Baartman | 14 | 0% |
| Mzamba | Alfred Nzo | 14 | -17.6% |
| St Francis Bay | Sarah Baartman | 14 | +55.6% |
| Swartkops | Nelson Mandela Bay | 14 | 0% |
| Tarkastad | Chris Hani | 14 | +75% |
| Chungwa | Amathole | 13 | +333.3% |
| Bedford | Amathole | 12 | -40% |
| Flagstaff | OR Tambo | 12 | -33.3% |
| Ikamvelihle | Nelson Mandela Bay | 12 | -36.8% |
| Qumbu | OR Tambo | 12 | -33.3% |
| Qumrha | Amathole | 12 | -20% |
| Despatch | Nelson Mandela Bay | 11 | -26.7% |
| Kareedouw | Sarah Baartman | 11 | -8.3% |
| Ngqamakhwe | Amathole | 11 | -15.4% |
| Willowvale | Amathole | 11 | -8.3% |
| Xamdeboo | Sarah Baartman | 10 | +11.1% |
| Bhityi | OR Tambo | 9 | -10% |
| Burgersdorp | Joe Gqabi | 9 | -18.2% |
| Cofimvaba | Chris Hani | 9 | -10% |
| Gonubie | Buffalo City | 9 | -69% |
| Ugie | Joe Gqabi | 9 | +200% |
| Bhisho | Buffalo City | 8 | -33.3% |
| Cedarville | Alfred Nzo | 8 | +14.3% |
| Indwe | Chris Hani | 8 | -11.1% |
| Lady Grey | Joe Gqabi | 8 | +300% |
| Ntabethemba | Chris Hani | 8 | +60% |
| Pholile | Alfred Nzo | 8 | +100% |
| Sterkstroom | Chris Hani | 8 | +60% |
| Bathurst | Sarah Baartman | 7 | -50% |
| Cathcart | Amathole | 7 | +40% |
| Hofmeyr | Chris Hani | 7 | 0% |
| Klipplaat | Sarah Baartman | 7 | +75% |
| Maletswai | Joe Gqabi | 7 | -36.4% |
| Peddie | Amathole | 7 | -12.5% |
| Steytlerville | Sarah Baartman | 7 | 0% |
| Storms River | Sarah Baartman | 7 | +75% |
| Coffee Bay | OR Tambo | 6 | +500% |
| Kei Mouth | Amathole | 6 | 0% |
| Khwenxurha | Amathole | 6 | +200% |
| Port Alfred | Sarah Baartman | 6 | -14.3% |
| Tamara | Buffalo City | 6 | -57.1% |
| Thornhill | Sarah Baartman | 6 | +50% |
| Chalumna | Buffalo City | 5 | +400% |
| Dordrecht | Chris Hani | 5 | -44.4% |
| Kwaaiman | OR Tambo | 5 | +25% |
| Molteno | Chris Hani | 5 | -28.6% |
| Pearston | Sarah Baartman | 5 | +66.7% |
| Punzana | Buffalo City | 5 | +25% |
| Steynsburg | Joe Gqabi | 5 | 0% |
| Venterstad | Joe Gqabi | 5 | 0% |
| Bluewater | Amathole | 4 | +100% |
| Cookhouse | Sarah Baartman | 4 | -71.4% |
| Ekhephini | Joe Gqabi | 4 | +33.3% |
| Glen Grey | Chris Hani | 4 | 0% |
| Hlababomvu | OR Tambo | 4 | +33.3% |
| Ilinge | Chris Hani | 4 | +33.3% |
| Kei Bridge | Amathole | 4 | +33.3% |
| Majola | OR Tambo | 4 | -66.7% |
| Middledrift | Amathole | 4 | -76.5% |
| Qhasa | Alfred Nzo | 4 | 0% |
| Seymour | Amathole | 4 | +100% |
| Thina Falls | OR Tambo | 4 | +33.3% |
| Bell | Amathole | 3 | +200% |
| Kinkelbos | Sarah Baartman | 3 | 0% |
| Moyeni | Amathole | 3 | 0% |
| Ngqayi | Joe Gqabi | 3 | -25% |
| Steve Vukile Tshwete | Amathole | 3 | -50% |
| Sulenkama | OR Tambo | 3 | -25% |
| Afsondering | Alfred Nzo | 2 | +100% |
| Balfour | Amathole | 2 | 0% |
| Bholothwa | Chris Hani | 2 | 0% |
| Dalasile | Chris Hani | 2 | -66.7% |
| Jansenville | Sarah Baartman | 2 | -66.7% |
| Kidds Beach | Buffalo City | 2 | +100% |
| Macleantown | Buffalo City | 2 | -60% |
| Rietbron | Sarah Baartman | 2 | 0% |
| Seven Fountains | Sarah Baartman | 2 | +100% |
| Tabase | Joe Gqabi | 2 | 0% |
| Tyefu | Amathole | 2 | -71.4% |
| Bridge Camp | Chris Hani | 1 | -50% |
| Hamburg | Amathole | 1 | 0% |
| Kleinbulhoek | Chris Hani | 1 | -66.7% |
| Kolomane | Amathole | 1 | 0% |
| Lukholweni | Alfred Nzo | 1 | 0% |
| Ntabozuko | Buffalo City | 1 | -66.7% |
| Palmietfontein | Joe Gqabi | 1 | 0% |
| Riebeeck East | Sarah Baartman | 1 | 0% |
| Rossouw | Joe Gqabi | 1 | 0% |
| Tylden | Chris Hani | 1 | 0% |
| Wolwefontein | Sarah Baartman | 1 | 0% |
| Zamuxolo | Joe Gqabi | 1 | -66.7% |
| Bholo | Amathole | 0 | -100% |
| Committees | Sarah Baartman | 0 | -100% |
| Fort Brown | Sarah Baartman | 0 | -100% |
| Healdtown | Amathole | 0 | -100% |
| Kei Road | Amathole | 0 | -100% |
| Mpisi | Alfred Nzo | 0 | -100% |
| Mtontsasa | OR Tambo | 0 | -100% |
| Phumalanga | Joe Gqabi | 0 | -100% |
| Thornhill Ciskei | Chris Hani | 0 | -100% |