- Global data site Numbeo ranked Pretoria second and Johannesburg fifth most dangerous in the world in its 2026 crime index.
- The DA says Gauteng's global crime ranking matches the daily experience of communities, and police stations face severe understaffing.
Pretoria and Johannesburg are ranked among the most dangerous cities in the world in Numbeo's Crime Index 2026.
Pretoria ranked second in the index with a crime score of 81.8 and a safety score of 18.2. Johannesburg ranked fifth with a crime score of 80.8 and a safety score of 19.2.
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South Africa has five cities in the top 10 of the index, more than any other country. They are Pietermaritzburg, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth.
Nambio is a global data site. Its crime index shows how people view crime in their city. This includes concerns related to robbery, burglary, car theft and violent crime.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng says the ranking matches what communities experience every day.
DA provincial spokesperson for community safety Michael Sun said recent police figures show severe crime pressures in some parts of the province.
In Johannesburg, Jeppe Police Station ranks first in the top 30 stations for reported murders. Johannesburg Central is in second place and Orange Farm is in third place.
In Tshwane, Temba police station ranks second in reported rape cases. Those cases increased by 3.3% from the previous fiscal year.
Mamelodi has the highest number of carjackings recorded in the province. Cases there increased by 39% compared to the previous financial year.
Sun said police stations suffer from a lack of resources, poor working conditions and limited training.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) recently reported serious staff shortages at station level amid concerns over gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide.
Sun said the shortages make it difficult for authorities to respond quickly, investigate cases and support victims.
He said the DA-led provincial government would pressure the national police ministry to expand policing powers in Gauteng and increase resources at stations.