Cape Town residents can now report certain crimes and by-law offences directly through the City of Cape Town’s mobile app, in a move aimed at making it easier for the public to flag safety concerns quickly. The new feature includes 17 sub-categories, ranging from metal theft and public drinking to abandoned vehicles, problem buildings and poaching.

The City said reports submitted through the app are automatically geolocated and sent to the relevant departments. Users can also upload photographs when logging an incident. Where a specific type of incident is not listed in the app, residents are redirected to the Public Emergency Communication Centre.

City Backs Wider Access to Emergency Support

Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith welcomed the rollout and said the City was proud to open incident logging to the general public through the app. Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services Theresa Uys said the update is part of a broader push to improve access to essential City services, especially during emergencies.

The app already offers a range of municipal functions beyond public safety. According to the City, residents can use it to log service requests, access municipal accounts and check planned service outages and road closures. The latest update adds a more direct public safety layer to a platform many residents may already be using.

Support for the Feature, but Concerns Remain

The new tool has been welcomed by some public representatives and safety advocates. Freedom Front Plus councillor Emre Uygun said he believes the app could lead to a significant rise in crime reporting. He also said underreporting has made it harder for SAPS and the City to deploy resources effectively.

At the same time, Uygun raised concerns about emergency response capacity, particularly the shortage of response vehicles on highways. Road safety advocate Paul Treleven also backed the feature, saying it could help people report incidents when they cannot safely make a call. He highlighted its potential value for people hiding during emergencies and for deaf users, while also pointing to the usefulness of photo uploads and confirmation that a report has been received.

Overall, the new feature could make reporting easier for residents. But its real impact may depend on how quickly authorities can respond once those reports come in.