Health and Wellness
(a) How many individuals were admitted to hospitals in the province during the past six months as a result of (i) gunshot wounds, (ii) stabbing wounds and (iii) gang-related violence, (b) of the cases reported in (a) above, (i) how many resulted in fatalities, (ii) how many required intensive care and (iii) what were the associated costs to the provincial health system, (c) what measures have been implemented by her Department to respond to and to mitigate the burden placed on hospitals by trauma cases related to (i) firearms, (ii) knives and (iii) gang activity and (d)(i) what trends have been identified over the past six months regarding hospital admissions linked to the causes in (a) above and (ii) what interventions are being prioritised in response?
(a)(i) Data from the Hospital Emergency Centre Tracking Information System (HECTIS) for the period June to November 2025 indicates that 3 111 individuals were admitted as a result of gunshot wounds.
(a)(ii) Data from HECTIS for the period June to November 2025 indicates that 23 711 individuals were admitted as a result of stabbing wounds.
(a)(iii) The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness does not routinely track gang-related incidents as a clinical category within hospital information systems. Gang-related violence is classified according to mechanism of injury, such as gunshot or stabbing wounds. Information relating specifically to gang activity should be requested from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
(b)(i) From 01/05/2025 – 30/11/2025
Sharp Object | Shot | Grand Total | |
Deceased to FPS from Hospital | 150 | 192 | 342 |
(b)(ii) This level of data is not available, as intensive care utilisation is not routinely disaggregated by mechanism of injury in provincial datasets.
(b)(iii) This level of data is not available, as the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness does not calculate trauma-related costs by individual cause or mechanism of injury.
(c) The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness has implemented a range of clinical, operational and preventative measures to manage and mitigate the burden of trauma on the health system, including strengthening emergency centre capacity, investment in Emergency Medical Services, violence prevention and injury reduction programmes, intersectoral safety initiatives, and the provision of psychosocial support services.
(d)(i) Over the past six months, hospitals in the Western Cape have continued to experience a high burden of interpersonal violence-related trauma, particularly injuries related to stabbing and firearm use, placing sustained pressure on emergency centres and trauma services.
(d)(ii) In response, the Department is prioritising the strengthening of emergency and trauma care services, expanded violence prevention initiatives in high-risk areas, continued collaboration with law enforcement and social sector partners, and data-informed planning to improve service readiness.
