Over the last financial year, there has been a significant increase of 45% in calls regarding domestic violence in Cape Town. Furthermore, the Tafelberg area recorded the largest share of all requests for help within the city.
According to data published by the City Council, the Emergency Call Centre registered 6,487 calls about domestic violence during the 2025/26 financial year, exceeding the previous year's figure of 4,464 calls.
The Tafelberg area accounted for 6.8% of the total calls, almost double the 3.6% recorded in Wesbank, which ranked second in share. Following these were Menenberg with 2.8%, Sherwood Park with 2.5%, as well as Istridge, Bontehuvel, and Hanover Park, each contributing 2.4%.
These figures indicate that several communities in Cape Flats are among the areas generating the highest proportion of requests for assistance, as the City recorded over 2,000 additional domestic violence calls in one year.
Staff attended 941 domestic violence incidents
J. P. Smith, a member of the municipal committee on safety and public order, noted that the increase could be due to both ongoing violence and an increase in victims choosing to seek help. He stated: 'The rise in reporting is likely a combination of continued attacks on women and children, as well as greater willingness among survivors to speak out.'
During the financial year, Metro Police staff participated in 941 domestic violence incidents and made 126 arrests. The City reported that when responding to such incidents, officers often encounter complex circumstances. Sometimes the alleged aggressors left before the officers arrived, and in other cases, victims were reluctant to press charges.
Staff can also move the aggressor from the home to a safe location and advise victims on obtaining protection orders. Smith emphasized that domestic violence is not limited to intimate partners, as officers also encountered cases involving other household members.
Substance abuse is a frequent factor
Additionally, the City reported that substance abuse was often a cause of the incidents in which officers intervened. Smith commented: 'These conflicts do not happen in isolation. They require a societal approach that goes far beyond the initial emergency call and subsequent law enforcement response.'
The data obtained in Cape Town comes against a backdrop of growing demand for help nationwide. The Department of Social Development's Gender-Based Violence Prevention Centre registered 6,782 calls between September 1 and 16, averaging 424 calls per day, which is 21% higher than the average daily rate for the same period in August.
Residents needing urgent assistance can contact the City's Emergency Call Centre at 021 480 7700 from a mobile phone or 107 from a landline.