Drugs, theft and assault haunt one of South Africa’s oldest farming towns

South Africa’s small towns and farming communities have a unique essence, with their warmth, charm, and abundant history.

But drugs are slowly eroding that as they take hold of many of the country’s beloved smaller towns.

Now, they’re even taking hold of Tulbagh, a historic town founded in 1699.

Drug crime up 45.6% in 3 months in a town founded in 1699

In one year, drug crime increased 21.1% in Tulbagh in the Cape Winelands. Over the same period, overall crime increased 12.4%.

In the first quarter of this year, crime rose 22.9%, and drug crime rose 45.6% compared to the same time last year.

Theft and assault are also up in the small town of 23 650 people.

Theft is up 44.9%, and serious assault is up 35.7%.

Tulbagh is 90 minutes from Cape Town and South Africa’s fourth-oldest town. Before the town’s development, it was used as the last trekker stop en route to Cape Town.

But it’s not only the historic town that’s being affected by drugs.

Towns surrounding Tulbagh are also experiencing a rise in crime.

In neighbouring Saron, crime is up 10.8% in the first quarter. It’s also up 19.3% in Prince Albert Hamlet, where 3 murders were recorded in 3 months.

Drug-related crime is up 20% in Saron, and in Prince Albert Hamlet it’s up 19.5%.

In Saron and Tulbagh, drug-related crime makes up a third of all crime reported.

In Prince Albert Hamlet, it accounts for half of all recorded crime.

The consequence of unemployment

In many smaller towns with higher drug use, there’s high unemployment.

This unemployment appears to spill into parts of the town where crime hadn’t been prevalent before.

One in three South Africans are unemployed.

According to a paper in ScienceDirect, the data supports a higher unemployment level leading to a rise in drug use.

The data showed that psychological stress, idle time, and social isolation caused by unemployment frequently result in higher drug use.

In Witzenberg Local Municipality, which includes Tulbagh, 4 641 residents receive the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, a grant given to individuals earning less than R640 a month.

Grant beneficiaries in the area increased by 14.3% in one year.