While Gauteng recorded an overall decline in several serious crime categories during the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, police statistics reveal a different picture in parts of Johannesburg’s Deep South, where kidnappings and robberies at homes and businesses remain a serious concern.
South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics for April to June 2026 show that total contact crimes across Gauteng declined by 3%, from 38,296 to 37,161 reported cases.
The Johannesburg District recorded 14,594 contact crimes during the quarter.
However, station-level figures for Lenasia, Ennerdale and Lenasia South show that improvements in some categories have been accompanied by significant increases in others — particularly kidnapping and robbery at residential and non-residential premises.
Lenasia: Kidnappings and house robberies rise sharply
Lenasia recorded an overall improvement in contact crime, with reported cases falling by 10.5%, from 465 to 416.
By reported case count, Lenasia Police Station ranked 25th in Gauteng and 59th nationally for contact crime.
Murders decreased from 26 to 22 cases, while carjackings fell from 50 to 45 incidents.
Despite the decline, Lenasia remains among the higher-ranking police precincts for carjacking, placing sixth in Gauteng and 10th nationally.
The picture changes sharply when kidnappings and residential robberies are examined.
Reported kidnappings increased by 33.3%, from 36 to 48 cases. This placed Lenasia fifth in Gauteng and sixth nationally by number of reported kidnapping cases.
Robbery at residential premises also rose significantly, increasing by 34.6%, from 26 to 35 incidents.
Lenasia ranked fifth in Gauteng and 11th nationally for house robberies.
Robberies at non-residential premises, which include businesses, increased from eight to 11 cases.
The figures suggest that while some violent crimes have declined in the precinct, residents and businesses continue to face growing risks in crimes involving robbery and kidnapping.
Ennerdale: Contact crime increases
Ennerdale bucked the broader provincial downward trend, recording a 5.1% increase in contact crime, from 414 to 435 cases.
The station ranked 20th in Gauteng and 51st nationally for contact crime by reported case count.
Kidnappings increased from 32 to 37 incidents, a rise of 15.6%.
Ennerdale ranked 13th in Gauteng and 16th nationally for kidnapping.
Residential robberies edged upwards from 17 to 18 cases, while robbery at non-residential premises rose from 10 to 11 incidents.
Truck hijackings also increased from one to two cases.
There were, however, notable declines in several serious crime categories.
Murders dropped by 16.7%, from 24 to 20 cases, while carjackings decreased by 20.6%, from 34 to 27 incidents.
Reported rape cases also declined, from 22 to 19 cases.
The Ennerdale figures therefore present a mixed picture: reductions in murder, rape and carjacking, alongside increasing contact crime and a rise in kidnappings and robberies.
Lenasia South: Business robberies jump 83%
In Lenasia South, robberies targeting homes and businesses increased during the quarter.
Robbery at residential premises rose by 15.8%, from 19 to 22 reported cases.
By reported case count, Lenasia South ranked 19th in Gauteng and 38th nationally in this category.
The sharpest increase was recorded in robberies at non-residential premises.
Cases jumped from six to 11 incidents, representing an 83.3% increase.
Lenasia South ranked 23rd in Gauteng and 41st nationally for this category.
Murder remained unchanged at 21 cases, placing the precinct 16th in Gauteng and 56th nationally.
Although the numbers involved in business robbery are smaller than some other crime categories, the percentage increase highlights the growing pressure facing local businesses and commercial premises.
At a glance: What changed?
Across the three police precincts, the first-quarter statistics reveal several distinct trends.
Lenasia
- Contact crime: down 10.5%, from 465 to 416
- Murder: down from 26 to 22
- Carjacking: down from 50 to 45
- Kidnapping: up 33.3%, from 36 to 48
- Residential robbery: up 34.6%, from 26 to 35
- Business robbery: up from 8 to 11
Ennerdale
- Contact crime: up 5.1%, from 414 to 435
- Kidnapping: up 15.6%, from 32 to 37
- Residential robbery: up from 17 to 18
- Business robbery: up from 10 to 11
- Murder: down 16.7%, from 24 to 20
- Carjacking: down 20.6%, from 34 to 27
- Reported rape: down from 22 to 19
Lenasia South
- Residential robbery: up 15.8%, from 19 to 22
- Business robbery: up 83.3%, from 6 to 11
- Murder: unchanged at 21
Gauteng records broader declines
The local increases come against a generally improving provincial picture.
Across Gauteng, murder decreased by 10.7%, from 1,429 to 1,276 cases.
Reported rape declined by 8%, from 1,810 to 1,666 cases, while carjackings dropped by 14.6%, from 2,583 to 2,207.
Those provincial declines are encouraging, but the station-level figures show why neighbourhood-specific crime data matters.
For residents of Lenasia, Ennerdale and Lenasia South, the broader Gauteng trend does not necessarily reflect the risks experienced closer to home.
The increases in kidnapping, residential robbery and business robbery point to crime patterns that require focused policing, community vigilance and closer scrutiny of how crime-prevention resources are being deployed across Johannesburg’s Deep South.
