Thohoyandou police station has retained its number-two position in the country — unfortunately for the wrong reasons. It is the police station with the second-highest number of recorded rape cases in South Africa.
The latest crime statistics, released by the SAPS last week, show that between October and December last year, 85 rape cases were opened in Thohoyandou — 18 more than in the previous period and ten more than in the same period in 2024. Thohoyandou also ranks second for sexual offences, with 93 cases reported in the third quarter.
The high incidence of reported sexual offences marks Thohoyandou as a hotspot for such crimes and raises questions about whether the area remains a safe place to live.
Looking at the broader picture and analysing the crime statistics more closely, the situation appears somewhat different. It seems that Thohoyandou’s figures are heavily influenced by charges laid by community members, rather than cases resulting from police investigations.
However, serious problems persist. The station ranks first in the province for attempted murder, with 28 cases reported (#62 nationally), and 14th in the country for burglaries at non-residential premises, with 49 reported cases. In the third quarter, 257 cases of common assault were reported, placing Thohoyandou first in the province and 15th nationally.
The issue is also reflected in contact crimes, with 710 cases reported — the most in the province and 23rd nationally.
Regarding culpable homicide, another Vhembe-based station makes a surprise appearance at number one nationally: Makhado. This likely reflects road fatalities, such as bus accidents. Makhado recorded 51 cases, the highest in the country, while Thohoyandou recorded 13, placing it 10th nationally.
Thohoyandou tops the provincial list for malicious damage to property (126 cases), 19th nationally, and reported 59 shoplifting cases between September and December, placing it second in the province and 21st nationally.
Viewed holistically, crime in the Vhembe district is lower than in many other parts of the country. Not a single Vhembe police station features in the top 30 list of serious crimes reported by communities. Interestingly, Vhembe-based stations — including Thohoyandou — do not appear in the top 30 provincial list of “sexual offences detected as a result of police action”. The top-ranked Limpopo station in this category is Maake, with 63 cases reported.
The DA in Vhembe has described the crime situation in Thohoyandou as dire and worsening. Ms Thelma Marole, a senior party official and gender activist, said it is disheartening that, despite ongoing efforts to reduce crime, it continues to rise. She highlighted moral decay in communities, with children growing up witnessing abusive behaviour at home, which they often replicate, and called for the crisis to be addressed as a societal issue through stronger partnerships between residents, police, churches, and traditional leadership.
She also criticised the police, noting that many satellite stations that were previously effective have been closed, leaving Thohoyandou police station with a skeleton staff to service a vast area. Structures like the CPF, designed to assist the police in fighting crime, have collapsed, further eroding community trust. “The community has lost trust in the police, as some are working with criminals. We need to come together as stakeholders and develop strategies to fight this ever-increasing scourge," she said.
Vhembe CPF chairperson Adv Tshimangadzo Enos Muthubi echoed these concerns, citing alcohol abuse and limited police resources as key drivers of crime. He said the CPF plans to meet with the local liquor board to find solutions and reopen satellite stations to improve coverage. Muthubi added that a schools programme will be launched to educate learners and discourage them from crime. “Otherwise, Thohoyandou station will remain our ‘winning station’ and continue to paint a bleak picture of our region," he said.