Guns are the preferred weapons of murder in the province.
The Western Cape has recorded reductions in murder, attempted murder, sexual offences, assault and robbery. However, police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile says more needs to be done.
Patekile presented the crime statistics for the fourth and final quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year on Monday.
He was joined by the MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, the Chairperson of the Provincial CPF Board, Ms Francina Lukas, and Member of Parliament Dereleen James at a media briefing held in Green Point.
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“While proactive policing efforts and numerous anti-crime initiatives have been implemented across the province, more work remains to be done,” said Patekile.
He emphasised the need for continued collaboration and called on other government departments and community organisations to intensify their support in the fight against crime.
“Rapid response interventions that are set to commence soon are expected to bring some relief to communities plagued by gang violence and criminal activity. These improvements signal progress, but the Saps remains committed to further strengthening safety and security across the Western Cape.”
Western Cape crime stats
The province recorded an increase in cases of assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm – 6 465 recorded between January 2025 and March 2025, compared to 6 330 from the same period last year.
Sexual assault cases were 411 during this period, compared to 396 last year. There was an increase in arson cases, from 175 to 190.
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Rape cases were 1 189, compared to 1 243 from the same period last year.
According to the crime stats, seven Western Cape police stations were included in the country’s most dangerous. These are the Cape Town Central, Mfuleni, Mitchells Plain, Delft, Kraaifontein, Stellenbosch, and Worcester police stations.
Arguments, misunderstandings, provocations and fights are the leading causes of murder in the Western Cape, accounting for 237 murders out of the total 1 068 cases.
Of the 1 143 cases of attempted murder recorded, 287 cases were caused by the above factors.
You’re more likely to get killed in a public place, according to the crime stats, with 718 cases of murder, 683 of attempted murder, 2 214 of assault GBH and 108 cases of rape recorded during this period.
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The City of Cape Town district recorded 601 cases of murder in a public place, Cape Winelands district (58), Overberg and West Coast (19), Garden Route district (16) and Central Karoo District (5).
Object of murder
Most victims in the City of Cape Town district were shot to death, with 554 such murders recorded, while 108 were stabbed with a knife, 61 stabbed with a sharp instrument and 18 killed with a stone, brick or rock.
The City of Cape Town district also recorded the highest number of incidents of multiple murders. There were 47 incidents where two people lost their lives, six incidents where three people lost their lives and one incident where five people lost their lives.
One of the cases, suspected to be extortion-related, involves five men who were found lying next to a burning Toyota Avanza motor vehicle in Betterlife in February.
The victims were all shot, and their bodies were also burned. A sixth victim was also shot in her left thigh after being hit by a stray bullet.
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