Pensioners say goodbye to beloved coastal town as burglaries rise

No one wants to feel unsafe in their own home.

But that’s a reality of living in South Africa. In some parts of the country, it’s more prevalent than in others.

In Port Shepstone, burglaries may be chasing older residents away.

Burglaries at the Coast

In the first quarter of the year, Port Shepstone recorded 104 residential burglaries; more than one burglary a day.

The most recent South African Police Service (SAPS) crime stats show that crime in Port Shepstone increased by 10.1% in the first quarter.

Residential burglaries were among the top 5 crimes in the first quarter, increasing by 16.9% over the three months.

Drug-related crimes increased by 18.9% in the first quarter.

Port Shepstone, a town that has become increasingly popular among pensioners, is seeing this large portion of residents leave.

According to the KwaZulu-Natal Deeds Office, over-65 property sellers made up 45.1% of all sellers, 4 percentage points more than in 2019 when crime in the area had peaked.

Fewer over-65s are buying property in the area. Of the 590 sales this year, only 20.1% of buyers were over 65.

Safety on the South Coast

While Port Shepstone may be losing favour among over-65s, other areas along the South Coast are attracting this crowd.

The Hibberdene police precinct records roughly one-third of Port Shepstone’s crimes.

In the 3 months ending June 2026, Hibberdene reported 40 residential burglaries.

Residential burglaries are also trending downward in Hibberdene. In the first quarter, residential burglaries declined by 36.5%.

Property sales among the over-65s have risen to 24.1%.

Safety Tips for Pensioners

Pensioners are at higher risk of becoming targets of crime given their age.

But pensioners can avoid falling victim by being proactive. These tips are easiest to implement.

Don’t Share About Valuables

If you have valuable belongings, do not let anyone know where you keep them.

Most banks have discontinued safe custody services, but pensioners can approach other companies.

If you have valuables of both monetary and sentimental value, consider using a safe deposit box.

Inform trusted neighbours when you’re leaving for long periods.

If you have armed response, always let them know when your home will be unoccupied for extended periods.

They can increase their patrols.

But if you’re only going to be out for a few hours, ask a neighbour to keep watch for suspicious activity.

Report suspicious activity in the community.

Contact the police or a security service if you think you’re witnessing a crime or a crime in progress. Look out for loiterers, cars driving in circles, or individuals carrying backpacks or purposefully disguising their appearance.

Join WhatsApp or Facebook safety groups.

To ensure you know when there’s been a spate of burglaries, it’s important to be informed about where and when these are happening.

You can also share any information you’ve gathered on these groups.

Always ask for credentials.

Before letting anyone onto your property, ask for credentials and double-check with a trusted third party.

Many burglars gain entry by pretending to work for a municipality or other government entity.