TURNING THE TIDE: MUNICIPAL STRATEGIES FOR SAFER SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES

The 2024 State of Urban Safety in South Africa report, released by the South African Cities Network (SACN), paints a complex yet actionable picture of urban crime in the country’s largest cities.

While the data reveals persistent and in some cases worsening trends in violent crime, it also highlights examples of municipal resilience, good governance, and collaborative efforts that offer a pathway toward safer, more inclusive cities.

Compiled from police data, local inputs, and the Urban Safety Reference Group (USRG), the report focuses on eight metropolitan municipalities and select secondary cities, drawing on evidence from the 2022–2024 period. For municipal leaders, it serves not only as a diagnostic tool but also as a call to action grounded in data and experience.

Urban Crime: A Concentrated Crisis

Urban areas account for the overwhelming majority of serious crimes in South Africa. According to the report, approximately 75% of vehicle-related crimes and 55% of residential robberies take place in cities - not because cities are inherently dangerous, but because they concentrate populations, mobility, and economic activity. Cities like Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Nelson Mandela Bay are disproportionately affected by violent crime, with murder rates well above national averages.

The concentration of crime in urban areas highlights the need for municipal governments to develop integrated safety plans that go beyond law enforcement. Urban crime, particularly interpersonal violence, is often rooted in socio-economic inequalities, spatial exclusion, and weak local governance.

Rising Violence: Murder Rates and Risk Factors

Among the most sobering statistics in the 2024 report are the long-term increases in murder rates across several metros. Over an 18-year period:

• Cape Town’s murder rate rose by 20%.

• Msunduzi (Pietermaritzburg) experienced a 46% increase.

• Nelson Mandela Bay recorded a 67% surge.

These numbers are not just figures

- they reflect the lived reality of communities grappling with instability, under-resourced services, and high levels of trauma. The report emphasises that these patterns are closely linked to entrenched spatial inequality and the enduring legacy of apartheid planning, where informal settlements and townships remain under-serviced and disconnected from opportunity.

Urban safety isn’t just a policing issue - it’s a municipal responsibility that starts with good governance, spatial inclusion, and community partnership.

Tshwane’s Turnaround: A Case Study in Improvement

Despite the concerning trends elsewhere, the City of Tshwane stands out as a relative success story. According to the report, Tshwane is now considered the safest metro in South Africa. The city has shown notable progress in reducing contact crimes and maintaining relative stability in murder and assault rates. This positive shift is attributed to a combination of factors:

• Political stability and effective interdepartmental coordination.

• Innovative local policing strategies such as data-driven deployments.

• Community outreach and urban revitalisation programmes, especially in crime-prone zones.

Tshwane’s case demonstrates that good municipal governanceparticularly where it enhances basic service delivery and addresses community needs - can directly influence public safety outcomes.

The Role of the Urban Safety Reference Group

Established as a knowledgeexchange platform, the Urban Safety Reference Group (USRG) plays a vital role in equipping cities with tools, policy guidance, and peer learning opportunities. Over the 2022-2024

period, the USRG helped to promote collaboration across municipalities and encouraged cities to integrate safety into broader urban planning frameworks.

Through USRG-led initiatives, cities have begun adopting more evidencebased approaches, shifting from reactive policing to prevention-focused models. These include:

• Safer cities audits and hotspot mapping.

• Cross-sectoral forums involving local police, community leaders, and planners.

• Data sharing agreements and performance tracking.

Such coordinated responses are essential for addressing the multi-layered nature of urban crime.

Pathways for Municipal Action

Drawing from the report’s findings, the following strategies are recommended for municipalities:

Localised Safety Strategies

Municipalities should develop or update integrated community safety plans aligned with developmental goals. This includes investing in urban design that promotes safety - such as lighting, access control, and visible public infrastructure.

Violence Prevention Through Urban Upgrading

Crime prevention must include spatial transformation. Upgrading informal settlements, improving public transport, and ensuring access to economic opportunities are longterm but vital levers for safer cities.

Targeted Youth Programmes

With youth often both perpetrators and victims of violence, municipalities can partner with NGOs and educational bodies to provide after-school programmes, mentorship, and pathways to employment.

Leveraging Technology and Data

Several cities are beginning to harness GIS-based crime mapping, CCTV networks, and predictive tools to guide the allocation of law enforcement resources more efficiently. Investment in these systems should be scaled up.

Community Engagement

Trust between communities and local government is essential. Municipal leaders must actively engage residents in identifying risks and co-producing solutions. Community safety forums, when well-resourced, can become vital intelligence sources and catalysts for grassroots mobilisation.

Good News Deserves the Spotlight

While the report doesn’t shy away from exposing challenges, it is equally deliberate in celebrating progress:

• Tshwane is proof that strategic coordination yields real results.

• eThekwini, despite challenges, has shown success in piloting community-based safety initiatives in targeted wards.

• Mangaung has implemented municipal policing reforms and precinct-level safety audits, building institutional capacity.

These examples show that crime is not inevitable, and that municipalities have the tools - when guided by evidence and supported by collaborationto turn the tide.

Conclusion: From Analysis to Action

The 2024 State of Urban Safety in South Africa report is more than a statistical update. It is a tool for reflection, a framework for planning, and a challenge to municipal leadership. It calls on local governments to strengthen the “whole-of-society” approach - where urban planning, social development, and justice systems work together to address crime and its root causes. As South Africa confronts deepening urban inequality, the role of municipalities has never been more critical. This report makes it clear: safer cities are possible, but only through proactive leadership, inclusive planning, and unwavering community partnership.

Urban SnapshotSafety

Key Stats & Shifts from the 2024 SACN Report

• 75% of vehicle thefts & hijackings happen in SA cities

• 55% of home robberies are in urban areas

• Murder up by 67% in Nelson Mandela Bay (2005–2023)

• Tshwane named SA’s safest metro

• USRG driving innovation & collaboration across cities

• Urban inequality remains a key risk factor

• Data-led policing & community partnerships show results

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