Macassar has a safety index of 30 out of 100 (Higher reported crime). This is a relative measure comparing reported crime across Cape Town suburbs, not an absolute safety guarantee. The Macassar precinct recorded approximately 3,028 crimes in the most recent annual period. Absolute crime volume is below the city average.

Is Macassar affordable?

Macassar is among the more affordable suburbs in Cape Town. With a median property value of R680K, it falls in the 21st percentile, below most of the city. Note that these figures are based on the City of Cape Town General Valuation 2022 and reflect municipal valuations, not necessarily current market prices.

What are utility costs in Macassar?

The median monthly water cost per account in Macassar is R952, 45% above the city median of R658.

What is the municipal debt in Macassar?

As of May 2026, the average outstanding municipal debt per account in Macassar is R30,293, 244% above the city median of R8,815. Figures include all account types, so may overstate household debt in areas with commercial activity.

Macassar

A suburb with higher reported crime, below-average property values, and well-connected public transport relative to Cape Town.

Safety30/100Precinct estimate only · ↑ Worsening Property4-600kTop 79%Schools382% matric pass rate Healthcare4 facilitiesmoderate access CouncilBelow avg complaints3d median resolution TransportMinibus taxi coveragewell-connected area

Data current as of June 2026

The neighbourhood

What's it like to live here?

Macassar is a neighbourhood in Helderberg, Cape Town, where property values place it among the more affordable areas in Cape Town. The area's safety profile is below the city average for reported safety. There are several places of worship in the area. The dominant commuter mode is minibus taxi.

How is the area changing?

In Macassar, crime is rising based on the most recent quarterly comparison. Property values have broadly tracked inflation between valuation rolls.

What should buyers know?

Macassar is served by schools within reach, and matric results sit below the city average. In this area, service complaints are generally resolved within a few days. The suburb has several healthcare facilities within reasonable distance.

Neighbourhood summary generated from StreetSignal data and reviewed by our team.

These statistics describe the suburb as a whole. Conditions vary between streets and neighbourhoods within any suburb.

For home buyers & families

Is Macassar safe?

Higher reported crime

Higher crimeModerateLower crime

68th percentile among 744 suburbs · Data: Q4 2025/2026 (Jan–Mar 2026) · relative index, not an absolute safety measure

LowAbsolute crime volume

3 028 reported crimes per year · city median: 4 280

↑ 8.9% vs Q3 2024

Rate and volume tell different stories.

The per-capita rate appears high, but actual crime volume (3 028) is below the city median.

Crime is higher than most of Cape Town and has been increasing over the past year. Contact crime (assault, robbery) dominates the reported crime profile. Check the breakdown below for specifics.

Detailed data

Safety index (resident-adjusted) How is this calculated?: 30 / 100Limited data — why?
Contact crime rate: 273,925 per 100k residents
Station population: 63 388
Harm rate (per resident): 33/100
Harm volume (absolute): 28/100
Data period: Q4 2025/2026 (Jan–Mar 2026)
Source: SAPS via DataFirst · CC-BY 4.0

This data reflects crimes reported to SAPS Macassar precinct, which covers Macassar and surrounding suburbs. Reported crime may differ from actual crime levels.Full methodology

Disagree with this score? Challenge the methodology ›

Source: SAPS via DataFirst · Q4 2025/2026

FOR BUYERS & INVESTORS

What do properties cost in Macassar?

21st percentile

Planned development

477 hectares of land in Macassar are earmarked for new development across 20 parcels, primarily Low Density Residential (182ha) and Mixed Use (151ha), and 4 other categories.

Source: CCT District Spatial Development Framework (January 2023). Development areas indicate planning designation, not construction timelines.

The median property value in Macassar is R680K. Property values have grown by 4.1% per year since 2018.

A 4.1% annual growth rate (CAGR) over the valuation period.

Value band distribution – Macassar properties (GV2022)

0-200k

2-400k

4-600k ◀

6-800k

800k-1M

1-1.5M

Property values are based on the City of Cape Town's 2022 General Valuation roll. GV is an assessed value for municipal rating purposes; transaction prices frequently exceed GV. Recent sales transaction data and rental market data are not available as open data in South Africa.

Median GV2022: R680,000
Value growth (CAGR 2018–2022): +4.1% per year↑ Growing
City-wide value percentile: 21st percentile
Dominant value band: 4-600k
Source: CCT GV 2022 · Open Data Policy 27781
Vintage: General Valuation 2022 (municipal valuation, not current market price)

Source: City of Cape Town GV2022

FOR RESIDENTS

What do utilities cost in Macassar?

Computed from City of Cape Town billing data

Water

R952 / month

45% above city median

Electricity

This area is supplied by Eskom. City of Cape Town electricity billing data is not available.

Water trend:Dec 2025: R867Jan 2026: R1 078Feb 2026: R952

Monthly cost per account from City of Cape Town billing data. Water coverage: 647 suburbs. Electricity coverage: 384 suburbs.

INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

Development activity in Macassar

↑ Increasing

Macassar had 717 building plans approved in the last three financial years (FY22/23 to FY24/25), averaging 239 per year. Most were new residential builds.

3-year approvals: 717
Annual average: 239/yr
Avg project value: R1.1M

88% social housing88% of recent building plans in Macassar were for RDP or low-cost housing projects.

Building plans approved by the City of Cape Town (2014-2025). Approvals indicate planned investment, not completed construction. This data reflects formal building activity only and does not capture informal construction, backyard dwellings, or building work undertaken without a formal plan submission. In areas with high informality, actual construction activity may be substantially higher than these figures suggest. Source: CoCT Building Development Management (DAMS).

FOR PARENTS

How are schools in Macassar?

3 schools nearby

Macassar has 3 schools within reach. The area matric pass rate is 81.7%, below the city median of 90.0%. Schools include Marvin Park Primary School.

Adjusted pass rate: 81.7%; City median: 90.0%
Schools contributing: 2; 287 candidates
Median quintile: Q5; Q4-Q5

Q4
Marvin Park Primary School
Public · Grades R–7 · 1,357 learners · 33.9:1 learner-educator ratio
Q5
Macassar Sek
Public · Grades 8–12 · 1,178 learners · 30.2:1 learner-educator ratio
Quintile 5School fees apply
Q5
Zandvliet Hoërskool
Public · Grades 8–12 · 1,245 learners · 33.6:1 learner-educator ratio
Quintile 5School fees apply

Quintile 5 is the highest government-funding category - fees apply, but these are the best-resourced public schools in South Africa. Rankings set by the WCED against community socioeconomic index. Learner-educator ratio (LER) is from EMIS Q2 2025; under 30:1 is favourable by WCED standards, over 40:1 indicates strained capacity. What quintile means ›

Source: DBE EMIS · Q2 2025

FOR COMMUTERS

How connected is Macassar?

Taxi-connected

Macassar has 29 minibus taxi routes. The most common way people get to work is by minibus taxi (44%).

Taxi connectivity

Connected

29 routes

72nd percentile · 23 destinations

Blackheath, Eerste river, Eerste rivier stasie, Firgrove, Firgrove (via r102), Khayelitsha +17 more

Based on CCT minibus taxi route data. Routes matched by name and spatial proximity (500m). Methodology ›

Commute mode share

Minibus taxis are the primary transport mode. The 44% share reflects a working-class commuter profile – taxi connectivity is a critical economic lifeline, not a lifestyle choice.

Private vehicle

29%

Walking

17%

MyCiTi bus

Minibus taxi

44%

Cape Town transport context: In South African cities, transport mode is a socioeconomic proxy – high private vehicle = affluent, high minibus taxi = working class, high walking = structural necessity not preference. StreetSignal reports modal share rather than a walkability index, which would misrepresent SA urban mobility. Methodology ›

Dominant mode: Minibus taxi (44%)
Source: CCT Household Survey 2024

Source: City of Cape Town Open Data · 2024

FOR RESIDENTS

What are living conditions in Macassar?

Partial service delivery

Macassar has a service delivery index of 95 out of 100, above the city median of 84.5. 67% of dwellings are formal structures.

Computed from the City of Cape Town 2024 Household Survey, Macassar survey group (49 households). direct.

› Adult food insecurity (29.2%) is 1.6× the city average of 18.3%.› Monthly accommodation expenditure (R439) is 0.3× the city median of R1,674.› Social grants reach 66% of households, providing a critical income safety net.

Food security

Adult food insecurity: 29.2%; City median: 18.3%
Child food insecurity: 22.9%; City median: 13.0%
Food insecurity prevalence: 27.4%; City median: 22.3%

Access to basic services

95City median: 85

Piped water: 88.3%
Flush toilet: 95.5%
Weekly refuse: 95.0%
Grid electricity: 100.0%

Housing & tenure – Mixed tenure community

67City median: 68

Formal dwellings: 67.3%
Owner-occupied: 51.6%
Rented: 9.8%

Environmental risk – Moderate risk exposure

12risk index · higher = greater risk · City median: 26

Flooding risk: 2.8%
Fire risk: 5.9%
Violent crime: 1.8%
Non-violent crime: 1.8%

Economic structure – Significant material pressure

Food spending share: 52.1%; Share of income spent on food
City median: 35.3%
Under pressure, limited discretionary income · 18th percentile
Hardship dimensions: 2; Areas of material need (out of 8)
Grant income share: 66.0%; of households receiving grants
Monthly savings: R157; Weighted mean per household

Digital inclusion – Mixed-access suburb

Home fibre: 35.8%; City median: 46.5%
Mobile only: 44.0%
No access: 14.8%

Demographics & community

Avg household size: 4.5 people
Avg children per household: 1.7

Asset ownership

Computer access: 25.1%
Fridge ownership: 91.9%
Property ownership: 0.0%
Geyser ownership: 19.7%
Borehole access: 0.0%

Home-based economy

Home-based business: 21.1%; of households operate a home-based business

Source: City of Cape Town 2024 Household Survey. Survey group: Macassar. direct.

Energy access

87%

Free basic electricity

5.6%

City median

87% of electricity connections in Macassar receive free basic electricity under the City's indigent support programme. Free basic electricity is a constitutional entitlement providing a monthly allocation to qualifying households. The proportion reflects the reach of the City's indigent support in this suburb, not a measure of poverty.

Source: CCT prepaid electricity data (2025/11/30 to 2026/01/31). Covers prepaid connections only. Credit-metered households are not included. 5,373 connections.

Source: City of Cape Town household survey · 2024

FOR RESIDENTS

How responsive are municipal services in Macassar?

Responsive

The City of Cape Town resolves service requests in Macassar in a median of 3 days, compared to the city-wide median of 1 day. This is based on 7,231 service requests to the City of Cape Town.

Computed from City of Cape Town service request data

Below-average municipal responsiveness. A 3-day median resolution is slower than the city median – infrastructure complaints take meaningfully longer to resolve.

Median days to resolve
City median: 1

11th

Percentile
across Cape Town

25%

Resolved
same day

Sewerage overflow (8%)PPM KRN Fault (5%)Plumbing (5%)Power outage (4%)Carpentry (4%)

Service requests logged: 7 231
Requests resolved: 53% (3 864 of 7 231)
75% resolved within: 10 days
90% resolved within: 22 days
Source: CCT service request database

Community & faith

Places of worship

4 registered

Christian

Places of worship per suburb from City of Cape Town open data, supplemented with OpenStreetMap data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). Coverage: 373 of 744 suburbs.

Municipal complaints

Complaints & top issues

Below city average

Complaint rate How is this calculated?: 543.5 per 1,000 households
Total complaints: 7 223
Unresolved: 47.0%

Top issues: Sewerage overflow (548), PPM KRN Fault (383), Plumbing (382)

Source: City of Cape Town C3 service requests

MUNICIPAL FINANCE

Municipal debt in Macassar

244% above city median

Computed from City of Cape Town financial data

Municipal debt in Macassar averages R30 293 per account, compared to the city median of R8 815.

R30 293

per account

244% above city median

Trend:Mar 2026: R30 293Apr 2026: R30 853May 2026: R27 935

Breakdown as of May 2026

Property rates: R7 644 537
Electricity: R302 214
Water: R4 064 538
Refuse: R1 616 421
Sewerage: R3 009 360
City-wide cleaning: R291 647
Improvement district: R0

Outstanding municipal arrears from City of Cape Town financial records. Coverage: 741 suburbs. Per-account figures available for 582 suburbs.

FOR FAMILIES

What services are near Macassar?

Some services nearby

Healthcare access

4 within 5km

Nearest public: Macassar Clinic · Clinic · 1.7 km
Nearest private: Mediclinic Strand · Private Hospital · 10.7 km
Public facilities: 4
Private facilities: 0

This suburb has public healthcare access but no private facilities within 5 km.

The nearest fire station to Macassar is Macassar, 1.8 km away. The nearest public pool is Khayelitsha Swimming Pool, 6.6 km away. The nearest clinic is Macassar Clinic, 1.7 km away.

Nearest clinic: Macassar Clinic · 1.7 km
Nearest library: Macassar · 1.8 km
Nearest park / open space: Carnation Greenbelt · 0.19 km