City of Cape Town

Indicator	Incidence of Rape
Description	Number of reported rape cases per 100,000 of the population per year.

Existing Trends

Note: Due to a changed definition of sexually-motivated crime resulting from the implementation of Act 32 on 16 December 2007, rape figures are only provided for the period April to December 2007. For this reason, the rates for previous years have been calculated for the same time period.

Significance	The number of rape cases reported for the period April to December 2007 was 2,460, a reduction of 225 for the same period in 2006. The number of cases reported may not be an actual reflection of the actual number of victim of rape as not many cases are reported by the victims. South Africa has the highest reported rape rate in the world, with Cape Town following national trends with regard to this crime.
Implications	The effects of rape can be devastating, and in most cases long-lasting. With a high HIV/AIDS incidence in many areas of Cape Town, rape is not only a brutal crime, but also a possible death sentence for many women. The possibility of contracting other sexually transmitted diseases, such as Hepatitis B, is also high. This crime affects a woman’s perception of self-worth which can impact on her ability to form stable, healthy relationship long after the act has occurred.
Map	A map showing the number of reported rape cases by police district.
References	Crime – SAPS   www.saps.gov.za Population – Strategic Development Information and GIS
Contact	Janet Gie Senior Professional Officer Strategic Development Information and GIS Janet.Gie@capetown.gov.za
Complied by	Strategic Information, Strategic Development Information and GIS Department
Updated	2008/09/29