Maweni, Vuyelwa Kemiso.Mbatha, Nondumiso Pretty.2019-02-132019-02-1320172017http://hdl.handle.net/10413/16120Master of Social Science in Criminology and Forensic Studies. Durban, 2017.Very little research has been done on rural crimes. The study at hand aims to understand the nature of rural crimes. The study employed an empirical research approach and design. This study was conducted at Kwa-Maphumulo eStezi, a rural area in Pietermaritzburg under the uMshwathi municipality. Results shows that murder, livestock theft, burglary, rape, domestic violence and substance abuse are the types of crimes that exists in the area. The area is faced with high rate of unemployment because many young people are school dropouts and uneducated. The community is faced with serious economic problems and crime rate is escalating. Lack of recreational facilities was found to be a contributing factor to crime in the area. There is a greater distance between the community and the police and that also promotes crime. Building of proper infrastructure, availability of recreational facilities, crime awareness programs and psychological services are the recommendations of the study.en-ZARural crimes.Kwa-Mapumulo.Lack of recreational facilities.School drop-outs.Thesis