Online Reporter
CAPE TOWN. —It is the crown jewel of South African tourism — famous for its sun, sea and the world-famous Table Mountain.
Cape Town was named World’s Best City 2025 by the Telegraph Travel Awards for the seventh time in 11 years.
However, beneath this amazing beauty lies a violent gang warfare which has left scores of people dead this year.
At the beginning of last month, 44 people were shot in the gang warfare, leaving 26 dead.
Then, another violent weekend across the Cape Flats communities left at least 22 people dead and 16 critically injured.
The deadly wave of shootings and stabbings struck multiple neighbourhoods between Friday, October 24, and Sunday, October 26.
The hardest-hit areas included Mitchells Plain, Manenberg, Lavender Hill, Delft, Bonteheuwel, Seawinds, Elsies River, Kraaifontein and Philippi.
Two weeks ago, the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) reported there were nearly 30 murders recorded in Cape Town alone in just 72 hours.
The organisation says the figures reveal a province where fear has become a permanent reality.
“The Western Cape is not merely experiencing high crime. It is living through a human catastrophe,” SANCO said.
“Children grow up recognising the sound of gunfire more than they recognise hope, while women are hunted by predators as the system meant to protect them continues to fail.”
Illegal firearms are fuelling the surge in violence.
Parliamentary reports confirm that 193 firearms, including AK-47s, traced back to Namibia, have been recovered from crime scenes in the province.
SANCO warned that “the N1 and N2 strips, the R60, coastal routes, and border linked smuggling networks have turned our province into an arms importing hub,” supplying weapons to gangs, extortion networks, and organised crime.
HOW DOES CAPE TOWN COMPARE WITH OTHER CITIES?
TIJUANA (MEXICO)
Located right on the border with the United States, has for years topped the lists of the world’s most violent cities.
Murder statistics here have reached a shocking 138 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Such an extreme level of violence is driven by brutal cartel wars over control of supply routes into California.
Its strategic location, along with flows of drugs, weapons, and people, and rampant official corruption create an explosive mix that is nearly impossible to contain.
Nevertheless, the city remains an important economic and cultural hub, where more than one and a half million people live between fear and hope for a stable future.
ACAPULCO (MEXICO)
Once synonymous with glamorous vacations, Acapulco is now one of Mexico’s most dangerous resorts. With a murder rate of 111 per 100,000 residents, the city has been plunged into a wave of criminal violence.
Turf wars between local gangs involved in drug trafficking and extortion have dramatically transformed the social landscape of this coastal paradise.
The contrast between idyllic beaches and soaring crime rates is so stark that many tourist areas now stand deserted.
CIUDAD VICTORIA (MEXICO)
The capital of Tamaulipas state has become one of the epicentres of violence in north-eastern Mexico due to clashes between rival criminal groups.
Daily life here is shaped by unofficial curfews and the constant threat of armed confrontations.
Across from the American city of El Paso, Ciudad Juárez is another historic battleground between organized crime and the state. For years, it was notorious for mass murders of women and cartel violence, but recent years have seen signs of recovery thanks to social development programmes.
CARACAS (VENEZUELA)
The Venezuelan capital has long been considered one of the most violent cities in Latin America. The murder rate hovers around 100 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Structural problems such as economic collapse, shortages, weak state institutions, and corruption have created fertile ground for widespread insecurity.
In many outlying neighborhoods, armed groups have effectively replaced state authority.
CIUDAD BOLIVAR (VENEZUELA)
Located on the banks of the Orinoco River, faces a similar situation, with 69 murders per 100,000 residents. Its rich historical heritage fades into the background amid instability and a lack of basic services.
PORT-AU-PRINCE (HAITI)
Port-au-Prince consistently ranks among the most dangerous cities in the world.
Its Crime Index score shows an extremely high value of 85.15, reflecting prevalent street crime, kidnappings, and gang dominance. Based on the World Population Review statistics, over 4700 murders and 2490 kidnappings were recorded nationwide.
Citizens report extremely low safety at night and high anxiety about home break-ins. Travelers and locals are advised to avoid informal settlements and certain downtown zones.
MACHALA (ECUADOR)
Situated in El Oro province, Machala is experiencing a rapid increase in crime, with a rate of 96.43 in the last 5 years. Although Ecuador’s crime index is moderate, Machala’s local index is much higher. It is a key transit point for drugs coming from Peru, and gangs compete for control.
Based on the Numbeo data, residents in this one of the most dangerous cities in the world have to deal with worries of being mugged or robbed. Poverty is widespread outside the city centre, which drives some into theft or gang activity.
MEMPHIS (UNITED STATES)
Memphis tops the USA crime charts, as it has one of the highest crime rates in America. According to NeighbourhoodScout, this city suffers from 26.05 violent crimes per 1000 residents, with a 1-in-9 chance of victimisation.
Moreover, homicides are frequent, especially in some places of the Whitehaven and Hickory Hill neighbourhoods. Overall, your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Memphis is higher than in many war-torn regions.
PORT OF SPAIN (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO)
According to the World Population Review, Trinidad and Tobago has the 7th-highest crime rate worldwide. Among its most violent cities, Port of Spain stands out at the top due to gang conflicts and frequent shootings. The city’s narrow streets, especially in areas like Laventille, can be very unsafe after dark.
With a Numbeo crime index of 86,73, citizens report being very worried about assaults and armed robberies. Tourists and residents of this one of the most violent cities in the world alike are advised to avoid walking alone at night, even in otherwise busy districts. — IOL/News24/russpain/eufy
