Western Cape faces crisis as murder rate soars to 345 in January
Communities in the Western Cape are facing unprecedented violence, with a staggering increase in homicides reported in January, highlighting the urgent need for effective policing and public safety measures.
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The Western Cape is grappling with a staggering surge in violent crime, with the province witnessing 148 homicides in just two weeks, raising the total for January to 345.
This grim statistic translates to an average of 11 murders per day, underscoring a deepening crisis that demands urgent attention.
Between 18 January and 24 January 2026, 73 lives were lost to violence, a trend that escalated with a further 75 homicides recorded between 26 January and 31 January.
These figures paint a harrowing picture of a province immersed in bloodshed, with families shattered and communities engulfed in fear.
The rising tide of violence signals a catastrophic breakdown in crime prevention and policing effectiveness, requiring a prompt and thorough response from government entities.
Benedicta van Minnen, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Western Cape Spokesperson on Police Oversight and Community Safety, emphasised the urgent need for action.
"There is an urgent need for the deployment of additional policing resources to identified crime hotspots, a clear and publicly communicated crime-fighting strategy with measurable outcomes, and accountability for persistent failures in policing and intelligence operations," she said.
"Stronger cooperation between provincial leadership, SAPS, and community safety structures is essential.
"The DA calls for the devolution of investigative policing powers to the provincial government and the City of Cape Town. This is essential to enable the Western Cape to address the shortfall in policing capacity.
"It will allow the province to strengthen investigations, deploy specialized units, and take proactive steps where SAPS has failed to do so. The people of this province deserve safety, dignity, and leadership that acts with urgency. Immediate intervention is no longer optional."
The numbers come following a continuous call by civic organisations such as Cape Crime Crisis Coalition, Fight Against Crime SA (FACSA) and others calling on the presidency and the Premier Alan Winde to declare a state of Disaster due to the escalating gang violence and murders.
A surge in emergencies is how the Western Cape Health Department and Wellness described the outcome of trauma numbers as recorded at Emergency Centres in the province between December 14 and January 15, with 423 gunshot wounds, 4 450 stabbing and responding to 7 353 assault related cases.
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