Murder in Garden Route
SAPS definition: “Murder consists in the unlawful and intentional killing of another human being.” — SAPS Crime Definitions (2012), as published by the Institute for Security Studies.
SAPS recorded 45 murder cases across 14 Garden Route precincts in Apr–Jun 2026, up from a very small prior-year base vs Apr–Jun 2025. That is 4% of the Western Cape's 1,071 total.
Ranked by precinct below.
Note: Raw reported counts — not adjusted for population. Precincts serving more residents will naturally report more cases.
Is murder rising or falling in Garden Route?
Which Garden Route precincts report the most murder?
Bars coloured by direction vs the previous year: teal = fewer, orange = more, grey = within ±2%. Top 15 of 17 precincts shown; full list in the table below. Sorted by Apr–Jun 2026 count.
All Garden Route precincts
| Precinct | Apr–Jun 2026 | vs Apr–Jun 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Thembalethu | 10 | 11 → 10 |
| Oudtshoorn | 8 | 1 → 8 |
| Kwanonqaba | 7 | 7 → 7 |
| Conville | 4 | 2 → 4 |
| Knysna | 4 | 2 → 4 |
| George | 2 | 1 → 2 |
| Heidelberg(C) | 2 | 0 → 2 |
| Plettenberg Bay | 2 | 0 → 2 |
| Calitzdorp | 1 | 2 → 1 |
| Da Gamaskop | 1 | 0 → 1 |
| Dysselsdorp | 1 | 1 → 1 |
| Kwanokuthula | 1 | 3 → 1 |
| Pacaltsdorp | 1 | 2 → 1 |
| Riversdale | 1 | 2 → 1 |
| Albertinia | 0 | 1 → 0 |
| De Rust | 0 | 1 → 0 |
| Uniondale | 0 | 2 → 0 |