Calls for a provincial state of disaster in Cape Town rejected amid rising gang violence
A call for the SANDF to stabilise gang violence on the Cape Flats.
Image: Henk Kruger Independent Newspapers
Calls to declare a provincial state of disaster in Cape Town have been rejected by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office. The move comes amid rising gang violence and a national petition demanding gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) be treated as a national disaster.
The petition, initiated by Women For Change, surpassed one million signatures as of Friday. Campaigners hailed it as a pivotal moment in South Africa’s response to violence against women. “We did it, one million signatures. And South Africa turned purple. The people of South Africa, and supporters across the world, have spoken loud and clear,” the organisation said.
The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) sent a formal response to Women For Change, stating that GBVF does not meet the legal definition of a disaster under the Disaster Management Act.
Cape Town reels under gang violence and rising femicide, while activists push for urgent action to protect women and children.
Image: AI Generated
Officials emphasised that ongoing social and policing strategies need time to take effect before declaring a national disaster.
Women For Change highlights a brutal reality: every day, at least 15 women are murdered, and 117 report rape cases to police. Between April 2023 and March 2024, 5,578 women and 1,656 children were killed, with femicide rising by 33.8% compared to the previous year.
“At Women For Change, we witness this brutal reality daily—standing with families devastated by femicide and speaking out for sisters who have been brutally abused or raped,” the group added.
Meanwhile, Cape Town remains in crisis. Dozens of people have been killed in recent gang-related shootings, including several men believed to belong to the Hard Livings gang in Manenberg. Between April and August, 63 children were murdered, many in gang-related incidents.
DA MPP Benedicta van Minnen said, “Children are dying, not from disease, but from bullets. In Philippi, a single detective is juggling nearly 200 cases. We need a functional, well-resourced police service.”
Provincial leaders stress that while programmes like LEAP and school partnerships help, they cannot replace a fully functional national police system. Civic groups warn urgent action is needed, but the national government insists patience with current strategies is the path forward.
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Cape Argus