Two KZN South Coast towns ranked as ‘safest'
Margate and Port Shepstone have been ranked as two of the five safest towns in KwaZulu-Natal.
This is according to an article published by the Newcastillian News.
The article's research ranks Margate in third place. Number one is Ballito, followed by Amanzimtoti in second place.
Margate's key crime problems are burglary and minor assault. The reason it is safe is due to the town being popular with retirees and tourists, well-policed, economically stable, and socially cohesive.
Port Shepstone comes in at fourth position, with key crime problems being burglary and petty theft.
The town is safe due to it being an administrative hub with strong law enforcement presence and diversified local economy.
Number five is Durban's charming seaside village, Salt Rock. Stephen Herbst of Tidy Towns Shelly to Margate said this great news doesn't come as a surprise as Margate is the Eiffel Tower of the KZN South Coast, and is the original destination for holidaymakers.
Herbst said the emphasis has been on dealing with petty crime and enforcement of bylaws, and this all goes hand-in-hand.
'If you take care of the petty crime, the serious crime takes care of itself. Reg Horne has been instrumental in that kind of philosophy.'
He said the South Coast deserves this, and a huge pat on the back to every individual involved from the Community Police Forum, security companies, Margate Saps and Ray Nkonyeni Municipality's Law Enforcement team.
***CLICK HERE TO SIGN***: Petition To Fix Margate Beach
'This shows the unity that has been formed among the private and public security sectors in Margate,' he said. Herbst believes the coast is poised for greatness and huge investment in the future.
To add to all the 'feel good vibes', Herbst added there are plans to fix the paving at the beachfront. This particular area (outside the Wimpy) was badly damaged from the last flood.
*The Newcastillian News team used the Saps' third-quarter crime statistics for 2024/2025, alongside insights from Stats SA, private security firm Secura, and expat platform Expatica to formulate the report.
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