Editing Cape Town (section)

=== Crime ===
[[File:Smash and Grab Hot Spot, Retreat (South Africa).jpg|thumb|Sign warning motorists about the prevalence of [[Smash and grab]] incidents at a crime Hot Spot on the [[M5 (Cape Town)|M5 freeway]], between [[Grassy Park]] and [[Retreat, Cape Town|Retreat]]]]

In recent years, Cape Town has experienced a resurgence in violent crime, particularly driven by gang violence in areas like the [[Cape Flats]]. This increase in violence is attributed to various factors including [[economic inequality]] (which can be linked to the legacy of [[apartheid|apartheid's]] spatial and social divisions), [[unemployment]], [[alcohol abuse]], the prevalence of illegal [[firearms]]], a lack of rehabilitation and support services for offenders leading to [[recidivism]], a lack of community safety organizations.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Dana |first=Joseph |date=22 August 2019 |title=Rising crime in post-apartheid South Africa speaks to a legacy of stark inequalities |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/rising-crime-in-post-apartheid-south-africa-speaks-to-a-legacy-of-stark-inequalities-1.901347 |access-date=4 June 2024 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref><ref name= "Violent crime in South Africa happens mostly in a few hotspots: police resources should focus there – criminologist">{{cite web|url= https://theconversation.com/violent-crime-in-south-africa-happens-mostly-in-a-few-hotspots-police-resources-should-focus-there-criminologist-248233 |title= Violent crime in South Africa happens mostly in a few hotspots: police resources should focus there – criminologist |author= Guy Lamb |publisher= The Conversation |date= 5 February 2025 |access-date= 15 May 2025 }}</ref>

Crime in Cape Town is a serious problem which affects the [[quality of life]] and safety of its residents and visitors. Between 2022 and 2023, Cape Town recorded the highest number of murders in a single year of any city in the world at 2,998, followed by [[Johannesburg]] and [[Durban]], an increase of 8.6% year-on-year.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 August 2023 |title=These 3 South African cities now rank among the 20 most violent in the world |url=https://businesstech.co.za/news/lifestyle/712786/these-3-south-african-cities-now-rank-among-the-20-most-violent-in-the-world/ |access-date=4 June 2024 |work=[[BusinessTech]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McCain |first=Nicole |date=22 February 2024 |title=Western Cape murders climb by almost 9% |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/western-cape-murders-climb-by-almost-9-20240222 |access-date=4 June 2024 |website=[[News24 (website)|News24]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Household crimes including [[burglary]] also increased in the same period.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Chris |date=14 November 2023 |title=Tourists to South Africa warned about 'smash and grab' attacks |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/tourists-south-africa-smash-grab-attacks-b2446874.html |access-date=4 June 2024 |work=[[The Independent]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Mexico]]'s Citizen Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice ranks it among the most violent cities in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCain |first=Nicole |title=Cape Town ranks top in SA as one of 50 most violent cities in the world |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/cape-town-ranks-top-in-sa-as-one-of-50-most-violent-cities-in-the-world-20220326 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401051723/https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/cape-town-ranks-top-in-sa-as-one-of-50-most-violent-cities-in-the-world-20220326 |archive-date=1 April 2022 |access-date=7 April 2022 |website=[[News24 (website)|News24]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

While the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|UK Foreign Office]] considers Cape Town safe to travel to, it notes the extremely high crime rates and highlights a particular increase on violent attacks and murders on the roads to and from [[Cape Town International Airport]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Xie |first=Qin |last2=Richardson |first2=Heather |date=4 June 2024 |title=Is it safe to travel to South Africa? Latest travel advice |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/africa-travel/south-africa/is-it-safe-to-travel-to-south-africa-jdkm5zmhj |access-date=4 June 2024 |website=[[The Times]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Safety and security – South Africa travel advice |url=https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/safety-and-security |access-date=4 June 2024 |website=[[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]] |language=en}}</ref>

As with other major metropolitan areas in South Africa, the majority of crime in Cape Town tends to be concentrated in very specific areas, indicating the potential success of place-based crime intelligence methods.<ref name= "Violent crime in South Africa happens mostly in a few hotspots: police resources should focus there – criminologist"></ref> In Cape Town, a lot of the crime that occurs takes place in the neighborhoods of Philippi East, Delft, Nyanga, Mfuleni, Gugulethu, Elsies River, Bishop Lavis, Kleinvlei, and Mitchell's Plain, which are best avoided (even during transit) by tourists and locals alike.<ref name= "Crime stats: Murder down nearly 10%, but an average of 75 people killed daily">{{cite web|url= https://www.news24.com/southafrica/news/crime-stats-murder-down-nearly-10-but-an-average-of-75-people-killed-daily-20250221 |title= Crime stats: Murder down nearly 10%, but an average of 75 people killed daily |author= Alex Mitchley |publisher= news24 |date= 21 February 2025 |access-date= 15 May 2025 }}</ref>

In early 2025, the City of Cape Town announced that progress had been made in combatting crime, with crime levels in certain notorious areas decreasing, according to statistics based on community reporting of incidents of crime. Daily patrol officers were complimented for their efforts, and the City said it was working closely with the [[Western Cape Government]] and the [[South African Police Service]] to adjust its law enforcement efforts according to changes in the city's crime statistics.<ref name= "Cape Town police stations lead in SA murder statistics">{{cite web|url= https://capetimes.co.za/news/2024-11-26-cape-town-police-stations-lead-in-sa-murder-statistics/ |title= Cape Town police stations lead in SA murder statistics |author= Nicola Daniels |publisher= Cape Times |date= 2025 |access-date= 15 May 2025 }}</ref>

Despite the crime levels, the city's [[economy]] has grown, as a result of good governance, investments in infrastructure, and an attractive business environment, as well as due to growth in the local [[tourism]] and [[real estate]] industries.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The Report: South Africa 2008 |publisher=Oxford Business Group |isbn=978-1-9023-3979-5 |editor-last=Jeffreys |editor-first=Andrew |page=159 |chapter=Caps off to the Western Cape |access-date=23 July 2019 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ikir7xF70_4C&pg=PA159 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427000105/https://books.google.com/books?id=ikir7xF70_4C&pg=PA159 |archive-date=27 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> Since July 2019 widespread violent crime in poorer [[Gangs in South Africa|gang dominated]] areas of greater Cape Town has resulted in an ongoing military presence in these neighbourhoods.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48962265 "South Africa Deploys Army to Gang-Hit Cape Town"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909084333/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-48962265|date=9 September 2019}} (12 July 2019). ''[[BBC News]]''. Retrieved 17 April 2020.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Baby Archie Begin First Official Tour as a Royal Family in Cape Town |url=https://time.com/5684069/prince-harry-meghan-begin-africa-tour/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923170009/https://time.com/5684069/prince-harry-meghan-begin-africa-tour/ |archive-date=23 September 2019 |access-date=24 September 2019}}</ref>

The minibus taxi industry has been the source of a number of [[Taxi wars in South Africa|violent confrontations]] in the city. The northern and eastern sections of the city was the scene of the [[2021 Cape Town taxi conflict]], a violent turf war which led to 83 deaths. The [[2023 Cape Town taxi strike]] resulted in 5 recorded deaths.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Muller-Heyndyk |first=Rachel |date=9 August 2023 |title=British doctor murdered amid Cape Town taxi protests after 'taking wrong turn' |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/world/british-doctor-murdered-cape-town-protests-2535839 |access-date=4 June 2024 |website=[[The i Paper]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Boynton |first=Graham |date=10 August 2023 |title='This week's murder of a British tourist in Cape Town came as no surprise to me' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/africa/south-africa/cape-town/cape-town-south-africa-uk-tourist-murder-how-stay-safe/ |access-date=4 June 2024 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

In 2025, Cape Town's Mayoral Committee Member (MCM) for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said that the expanded use of digital tools to complement law enforcement efforts has become part of the city's public safety operations. These tools include a vast network of CCTV cameras and drones, which have already proven successful in assisting with both arrests and prosecution.<ref name= "Large South African city using cameras and drones to stop crime">{{cite web|url= https://mybroadband.co.za/news/government/594689-large-south-african-city-using-cameras-and-drones-to-stop-crime.html |title= Large South African city using cameras and drones to stop crime |author= Daniel Puchert |publisher= MyBroadband |date= 14 May 2025 |access-date= 15 May 2025 }}</ref>