Philippi Residents Report Feeling Safer in Their Streets

From January to June 2025, over 800 residents of Philippi shared how safe they feel walking in their neighbourhoods. These insights came through our monthly community safety perception surveys, which continue to track public confidence across five key areas in Philippi.

This time, the results bring some long-awaited good news: a clear upward shift in the way people perceive safety in their own streets and along the area’s major roads.

Encouraging Trends in Four of Five Areas

Each month, respondents were asked two straightforward questions:

1. Do you feel safe or unsafe walking in your street?

2. Do you feel safe or unsafe walking along Govan Mbeki, New Eisleben, Stock, and Sheffield Roads?

The answers reveal a growing sense of safety, especially in four of the five areas surveyed. More people now say they feel safe than they did at the start of the year—a significant development for a community long challenged by crime and insecurity.

A 21% Increase in Safety Perception

Looking at the aggregate data across all five areas, we see a 21% increase in the number of people who say they feel “safe” compared to January.

The charts below show that specific areas experienced even greater improvements: Your Street (+30%), and Govan Mbeki Road (+40%), New Eisleben Road (+20%), and Stock Road (+19%).

What About Sheffield Road?

One area did not follow the overall trend. Sheffield Road showed a slight decline of 3% in residents reporting they feel safe. This road remains a well-known hotspot for extortion-related incidents and other crimes, and continues to be a key focus for safety interventions.

Where the Data Comes From

The results are based on six monthly survey rounds conducted between January and June 2025, with a total of 878 respondents—an average of 146 participants per month.

With an average margin of error of ±8%, these results provide a statistically reliable picture of how public perception is shifting across Philippi over time.

Behind the Numbers: Who’s Helping Make Philippi Safer?

The shift in public perception isn’t just a coincidence. It reflects the real work being done on the ground, day in and day out.

In recent months, the increased visibility of SAPS and the City’s LEAP officers—especially under the new hotspot patrol policy—has had a noticeable effect.

But that’s only part of the story.

The Role of Our Safety Teams

Much of the visible improvement in safety is thanks to our local safety teams, who work hand-in-hand with law enforcement.

• The PMU safety team patrols Philippi’s busiest roads on foot, offering a steady, familiar presence in areas where visibility makes a difference.

• The PEP (Presidential Employment Programme) safety teams contribute to safety across all five wards by escorting utility crews and maintaining a watchful presence at key points like street corners, taxi ranks, and local shops.

This consistent and visible presence (see photos below) plays a crucial role in deterring crime and helping more residents feel safe in their neighbourhoods. 

What’s Next?

We will continue conducting these monthly surveys throughout the rest of the year to track whether this encouraging—and somewhat unexpected—trend is sustained over time.

In the meantime, this growing sense of safety—reported by the people who walk these streets every day—is a powerful sign that community-based safety partnerships are working.