1Motherwell
Motherwell, South Africa: crime rate and Safety score
Safety 1 out of 10 High crime
1/10 in South Africa · 1/10 in the world
Compared with 1129 places in the same country (10 = lowest crime).
Weighted crime: 36,797 per 100,000 people (12 months to June 2026)
Residents: about 61,203, a WorldPop 2025 modelled estimate summed within the police precinct, not a census count.
Crime by type, as recorded by SAPS (12 months to June 2026)
| Type | Count | Per 100,000 a year | All places this source covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | |||
| Murder | 134 | 218.9 | 34.6 |
| Sexual offences | |||
| Rape | 77 | 125.8 | 61.8 |
| Sexual assault | 10 | 16.3 | 11.6 |
| Attempted sexual offences | 2 | 3.3 | 4 |
| Other contact sexual offences | 1 | 1.6 | 1.2 |
| Violence | |||
| Attempted murder | 57 | 93.1 | 44.5 |
| Assault with intent to cause serious harm | 176 | 287.6 | 265.1 |
| Common assault | 120 | 196.1 | 291.2 |
| Kidnapping | 21 | 34.3 | 28.7 |
| Abduction of a minor | 0 | 0 | 0.2 |
| Robbery | |||
| Armed or aggravated robbery | 219 | 357.8 | 178.3 |
| Includes carjacking, house and business robbery and cash-in-transit heists. | |||
| Common robbery | 8 | 13.1 | 67.4 |
| Theft and burglary | |||
| Home burglary | 77 | 125.8 | 193.2 |
| Burglary of other premises | 29 | 47.4 | 66.4 |
| Livestock theft | 1 | 1.6 | 33.5 |
| Shoplifting | 41 | 67 | 59.8 |
| Vehicle theft | 10 | 16.3 | 45.2 |
| Theft from vehicles | 30 | 49 | 112.4 |
| Other theft | 109 | 178.1 | 354.3 |
| Drugs | |||
| Drug offences | 366 | 598 | 357.5 |
| Found through police action, so it rises with policing. | |||
| Damage and public order | |||
| Public violence | 0 | 0 | 1.6 |
| Arson | 3 | 4.9 | 4.1 |
| Malicious damage to property | 77 | 125.8 | 160.3 |
| Other | |||
| Culpable homicide | 9 | 14.7 | 15.2 |
| Unlawful killing without intent, mostly on the roads. | |||
| Driving under the influence | 181 | 295.7 | 133.3 |
| Found through police action, so it rises with policing. | |||
| Illegal firearms and ammunition | 44 | 71.9 | 24.2 |
| Sexual offences found by police action | 0 | 0 | 20.3 |
| Mainly sex work offences, not attacks on a person. | |||
| Child neglect and ill-treatment | 4 | 6.5 | 3.6 |
| Crimen injuria (serious insult) | 3 | 4.9 | 40.7 |
| Fraud and commercial crime | 118 | 192.8 | 228.2 |
Source: SAPS, updated 29 October 2026.
Recorded crime by type (12 months to June 2026)
| Homicide | 134 |
|---|---|
| Sexual offences | 90 |
| Violence | 374 |
| Robbery | 227 |
| Theft and burglary | 297 |
| Drugs | 366 |
| Damage and public order | 80 |
| Other | 359 |
Questions about crime in Motherwell
- Is Motherwell safe?
- Motherwell: Safety 1 out of 10 (High crime). Compared with 1129 places in the same country (10 = lowest crime).
- What is the crime rate in Motherwell?
- Motherwell: Weighted crime: 36,797 per 100,000 people (12 months to June 2026).
- How many murders are there in Motherwell?
- Recorded homicides in Motherwell (12 months to June 2026): 134.
