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The South African
21-07-2025
- The South African
Cape Town's smash-and-grab hotspots: Where to look out for
New data from Cape Town's Metro Police CCTV network shows a clear pattern in where and when smash-and-grab criminals strike, and the numbers are rising. According to the City of Cape Town, between July 2024 and May 2025, 215 smash-and-grab incidents were recorded via the City's CCTV system. While exact numbers are likely higher, many incidents go unreported or occur outside the network's coverage, the available data points to a few areas that consistently emerge as danger zones. The most dangerous stretch, according to the data, is the corridor between Bonteheuwel and Langa, a long-time hotspot. But recent months have seen a shift. As law enforcement pressure grows in certain zones, criminals are relocating, and other intersections and suburbs are becoming increasingly active. Here are the other major hotspots in Cape Town based on incident data and reports to the Public Emergency Communication Centre: Leonsdale Beaconvale Foreshore Elsies River Industria Epping Industria Milnerton Philippi Many of these locations are clustered in the same general zones, making targeted enforcement more effective, but also more challenging as criminals adapt. The timing of these crimes isn't random. Most incidents happen during late afternoons and early evenings, especially over weekends. According to Alderman JP Smith, the City of Cape Town's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, this is when motorists are tired, distracted, or relaxed, and valuables are often visible on seats after shopping trips or errands. 'These opportunistic criminals strike when people are perhaps less vigilant after a long day at work or stuck in peak-hour traffic,' Alderman Smith noted. The City also provided some tips to reduce the risk of a smash-and-grab incident. These include: Keeping valuables out of sight and not on seats inside the vehicle – putting them in the boot or underneath the seat, making sure it's not visible Locking all doors and closing windows Being cautious, vigilant, and aware of your surroundings Being wary of people loitering about at traffic lights or intersections Being aware of people attempting to give you pamphlets or sell you goods, as not all are legitimate vendors. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
20-07-2025
- The South African
Why so many of Cape Town's street lights don't work
While Cape Town is often recognised for having better service delivery than other South African cities, a common frustration persists for many residents: non-functioning street lights. Between 26 May and 25 June 2025, the City's energy teams repaired nearly 12 000 faulty street lights. In spite of this effort, it represents only a portion of the 35 900 energy-related service requests that were logged during that period. According to the City of Cape Town, vandalism, cable theft, and illegal electricity connections are the leading causes of widespread street light failures across the metro. These problems are particularly costly, often requiring full replacements of damaged infrastructure – an intensive process that can take several hours or even days. 'We have various interventions to reduce the risk of these crimes, but as always, we need the help of our residents to report suspicious activity of their neighbourhood power infrastructure,' said the City's Mayco Member for Energy, Xanthea Limberg. The City's Energy Directorate also pointed to severe winter weather as a contributing factor. Persistent storms and intense rainfall throughout June contributed to a rise in reported outages. 'Wet and windy weather often increases the number of service requests,' added Limberg. 'It also slows down turnaround times as it is typically dangerous for our teams to do electrical work in those conditions.' The worst-hit area during this reporting period was Area East – which includes Helderberg, Oostenberg, Bloemhof, and Parow. Energy-related requests attended to in the Cape Town metro were as follows: EAST NORTH SOUTH Helderberg, Oostenberg, Bloemhof, Parow Vanguard, Mowbray, City, Atlantis Mitchells Plain, Wynberg, Gugulethu, Muizenberg 4 732 3 632 3 498 The City of Cape Town has asked residents to report suspicious behaviour to the City's Public Emergency Communication Centre (021 480 7700), and to remember that the SAPS remains the lead authority in crime prevention. For service requests, residents should first log a request online or phone 086 0103 089 (Option 3). Alternatively, email power@ Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Cape Town's emergency centre reports 84 accidents in 48 hours
The Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 84 motor vehicle and pedestrian vehicle accidents in 48 hours. Image: City of Cape Town THE City's Public Emergency Communication Centre recorded 84 motor vehicle and pedestrian vehicle accidents in just 48 hours. This is a near 50% increase compared to the last 'wet weather' weekend in March, and an urgent reminder to road users to shift gears, the City said on Monday. As statistics go, the Public Emergency Communication Centre reported 1 414 incidents logged. It was a busy weekend on the roads, due to Mother's Day, and with every wet weather episode, the City reports an an uptick in motor vehicle accidents. Image: City of Cape Town However, it was the 84 motor vehicle and pedestrian vehicle accidents that raised a number of red flags. 'It was a busy weekend on the roads, due to Mother's Day, and of course with every wet weather episode, we see an uptick in motor vehicle accidents. Wet weather conditions demand a different driving style, patience and more importantly, ensuring that key vehicle components are in good shape, like your tyres, brakes and wipers. 'These are things that far too many people either are not aware of, or neglect, and yet they can be the difference between life or death in poor driving conditions. Winter is fast approaching, so I appeal to everyone to please get their vehicles checked, but also to shift gears mentally for their own safety and that of others,' said mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith. In general enforcement matters, the City reported 294 arrests in the past week and issued 58 313 fines for various transgressions. On the roads, Cape Town Traffic Officers made 34 arrests - 24 for driving under the influence of alcohol, two for reckless and negligent driving and eight for other offences. Officers also recorded 47 653 offences, impounded 210 public transport vehicles and executed 1 435 warrants of arrest. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Law enforcement officers made 200 arrests and issued 7 076 fines. On Sunday, LEAP officers recovered two firearms. In Hanover Park, officers arrested a 25-year-old suspect for the possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition. He was found with a revolver and a number of rounds of ammunition. In Delft, officers arrested a 22-year-old for the illegal possession of a 9mm pistol and 15 rounds of ammunition. The public can report criminal activity by calling the City's Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700 from a cellphone and 107 from a landline. Cape Times
