The latest Gauteng Police Recorded Crime Statistics for the fourth quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year (January to March 2025) released on 5 June paint a grim picture for Orange Farm, where violent crime—particularly rape—is on the rise. The statistics, released last week, show that Orange Farm ranks second in Gauteng for reported rape cases, behind Roodepoort.
Disturbingly, Orange Farm also appears on the National Top 30 list of rape hotspots, 54 rape cases were recorded —an alarming increase of 34 cases compared to the same period last year, which saw 20 cases marking the highest year-on-year increase in the province.
Across Gauteng, a total of 2,042 rape cases were reported between January and March 2025. The majority of these incidents occurred in private residences known to the victim or perpetrator—including homes, places belonging to family or friends, and properties in the broader community. Public places such as streets, open fields, recreational centres, parks, parking areas, and abandoned buildings also featured heavily as crime scenes.
Speaking to Orange Farm News, Ronald Kapaso of Intouch Youth Development and Community Justice said: “The stats reveal a sharp and distressing rise in rape cases in Orange Farm, demanding urgent and collective attention. These numbers are not just statistics—they represent real lives shattered, families broken, and a community under siege from the pervasive threat of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). The fact that the majority of these heinous crimes occur in what should be the safest spaces—homes and familiar environments—compounds the pain and the urgency for deep-rooted interventions.”
Sophie Semo from Women in Motion, a local organisation advocating for women’s and children’s rights, echoed Kapaso’s concerns.
She said: “I’m not surprised the rape stats are so high in Orange Farm. These cases are often not taken seriously. If we compare rape and murder cases, it’s clear that rape cases are rarely prioritised. It is painful to see the numbers rise while victims are denied justice. Perpetrators continue because they know they won’t be arrested. Even when cases are opened, they’re confident they’ll get away with it. We demand action and convictions.”
Speaking at the official release of the crime statistics on 5 June, Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, outlined Gauteng SAPS’ current efforts.
He said: “The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) continues to follow a comprehensive approach to tackling sexual offences—from enforcement to education and community engagement. For the period under review, the unit arrested 1,112 sexual offenders, brought 1,356 cases before the courts, and secured convictions against 102 offenders. These convictions resulted in 28 life sentences and an additional 900 years of imprisonment.”
He added: “Beyond law enforcement, we’ve conducted 127 awareness campaigns, reaching 12,300 individuals—including 4,250 adults and 8,050 children. These campaigns are crucial for building partnerships with stakeholders and encouraging the reporting of sexual offences and gender-based violence.”
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