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This report by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Western Cape Government examines the impact of South Africa's 2020 COVID-19 lockdown on violence and policing, specifically focusing on 11 police areas in Cape Town. Using murder data, interviews, and a survey of over 5,000 residents, the study identifies a strong correlation between alcohol bans and the reduction of sharp-object murders and fatal violence against women, while finding that firearm-related murders remained largely unaffected by lockdown restrictions.

This case study by GreenCape examines first-response partnerships in Cape Town during the early stages of the Covid-19 lockdown, focusing on how collaborations between civil society and the private sector built local economic resilience and secured food security for vulnerable communities.

This research paper examines the intersection of the drug trade and 'criminal governance' in Cape Town, South Africa. It analyzes how historical apartheid policies, state institutional failure, and the development of organized crime networks have created parallel sources of authority, particularly in the Cape Flats, where criminal networks provide services and social control in the absence of effective state governance.

This monograph by Irvin Kinnes examines the evolution of street gangs in the Western Cape, South Africa, from local youth groups into sophisticated criminal empires following the 1994 transition to democracy. It analyzes the intersection of political instability, socio-economic deprivation, and the rise of international drug syndicates, while detailing the violent conflict between gangs and vigilante groups like Pagad.

This policy brief examines the relationship between urban design and organised crime in Cape Town, arguing that apartheid-era spatial planning created dysfunctional environments that facilitate criminal networks. It discusses how inadequate housing, poor infrastructure, and economic marginalisation allow gangs to act as parallel authorities, and recommends integrating crime prevention strategies into urban planning to reduce the influence of organised crime.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines how to map murder and violence in South Africa when official police data is unavailable or outdated. Using the Western Cape as a case study, it argues that because violence is clustered in specific areas, data-driven mapping is essential for effective prevention. The author proposes several alternative data sources, including health facility trauma records, community police forums, smartphone applications, and municipal emergency systems, to identify violence hotspots and guide interventions.