Orange Farm has emerged as one of Gauteng’s crime hotspots, with new police statistics showing increases in violent crime, residential robberies, kidnappings and truck hijackings — despite an overall decline in contact crimes across the province.
Official crime statistics for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, covering April to June 2026, show that contact crimes across Gauteng decreased by 3%, from 38,296 to 37,161 cases.
Orange Farm, however, moved in the opposite direction.
Contact crimes reported at Orange Farm Police Station increased by 7.7%, from 546 cases during the same period last year to 588 cases this year.
The station is now ranked ninth in Gauteng and 24th nationally for contact crimes against the person.
Sedibeng bucks provincial trend
Orange Farm’s figures reflect a broader concern across the Sedibeng District, which recorded the sharpest increase in contact crime among Gauteng’s districts.
Contact crime in Sedibeng increased by 11.6%, from 2,632 to 2,936 cases, making it the only district in Gauteng to record a double-digit increase.
Murder figures are equally concerning.
While murders across Gauteng declined by 10.7%, from 1,429 to 1,276 victims, Sedibeng was the only district in the province where murders increased.
The number of murder victims in Sedibeng rose by 8.3%, from 120 to 130.
Orange Farm tops country for truck hijackings
One of the most striking figures in the latest statistics is Orange Farm’s rise in truck hijackings.
The police station is now ranked number one nationally for truck hijackings, after cases increased from just three during the corresponding quarter last year to 18 incidents this year.
The increase of 15 cases was also the biggest rise recorded by a single police station in Gauteng.
The figures raise particular concern given Orange Farm’s location along major transport and freight routes and the economic consequences of attacks targeting commercial vehicles.
House robberies jump by more than 50%
Residents also face an increased risk of robbery at their homes.
While robberies at residential premises decreased by 15.9% across Gauteng, from 1,845 to 1,552 cases, Orange Farm recorded a dramatic 53.8% increase.
Cases rose from 26 to 40 reported house robberies.
Orange Farm is now ranked third in Gauteng and eighth nationally for robbery at residential premises.
Kidnappings rise sharply
Kidnapping figures also recorded a significant increase.
Cases reported at Orange Farm Police Station rose from 34 to 52 incidents, representing an increase of 52.9%.
The station is ranked second in Gauteng and third nationally for kidnapping.
The figures place Orange Farm among the country’s highest-ranking police stations in a crime category that has become an increasing concern for communities and law-enforcement authorities.
Murder edges upwards
Orange Farm also recorded a slight increase in murder.
Cases rose from 33 to 34 murders, an increase of 3%.
The station is ranked third in Gauteng and 21st nationally for murder.
Carjacking remained unchanged, with 33 incidents recorded during both comparative periods. Orange Farm ranks 15th in Gauteng and 22nd nationally for carjacking.
Reported rape cases decline
There was, however, a significant decrease in reported rape cases.
Cases fell by 33.3%, from 39 during the corresponding quarter last year to 26 cases between April and June 2026.
Orange Farm is ranked 13th in Gauteng and 58th nationally in this category.
The decline offers one positive indicator in a crime picture otherwise dominated by increases in several serious violent-crime categories.
Gauteng records declines in several serious crimes
Provincially, Gauteng recorded improvements in several major crime categories.
Carjackings decreased by 14.6%, while so-called trio crimes — carjacking, robbery at residential premises and robbery at non-residential premises — declined by 13.6%.
Cash-in-transit robberies also dropped from 13 to 10 incidents.
However, assaults increased. Assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm rose by 4.1% to 7,855 cases, while common assault increased by 2.1% to 10,720 cases.
Police statistics further show increased law-enforcement activity across Gauteng.
Crimes detected as a result of police action increased by 8.3% to 21,819 cases. Drug-related offences detected through police action rose by 8.7% to 11,619 cases, while arrests and cases linked to driving under the influence increased by 9.2% to 8,912.
For Orange Farm residents, however, the latest figures present a more difficult picture: while crime is declining in several categories across Gauteng, their community is experiencing significant increases in some of the crimes that have the greatest direct impact on residents’ safety — particularly kidnapping, home robbery, murder and truck hijacking.
