Western Cape: The third most dangerous province for women in South Africa

The Western Cape ranks third in South Africa as the most dangerous province for women, according to recent police statistics. In the 2025/26 financial year, 50,511 gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) cases were registered with the South African Police Service (SAPS). Of those cases, 30,736 led to arrests or were referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for prosecution.

The Western Cape accounted for 7,951 of these incidents, placing it behind KwaZulu-Natal (9,412) and Gauteng (8,933) as the third-worst province. Eastern Cape came in fourth with 7,638 cases.

Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia highlighted the figures in a parliamentary response to the MK Party’s Gugulethu Mchunu. He emphasized that the government plans to address challenges and improve investigation and conviction rates for GBVF. Cachalia suggested that police management must tackle identified hurdles and provide additional support for investigators, including forensic evidence and criminal record services.

Activists, such as Struggle veteran Sophie de Bruyn, expressed concern at the persisting shadow of GBV. She noted the stark contrast between the freedom fought for by women in 1956 and the abuse and silencing they face today. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently declared GBVF a national crisis, calling for extraordinary and concerted action to end the problem.

While government officials are implementing new measures to boost investigation and conviction rates, activists warn that these figures merely scratch the surface of a deepening crisis.