Cape Town in‑app reporting
- Cape Town rolled out a 'Report & Protect' feature inside its Citi App to let residents report incidents digitally. - The in‑app tool covers by‑law violations and criminal incidents and aims to cut emergency‑call wait times. - City officials touted faster citizen reporting starting April 21, asking that dispatch capacity match new digital reports ( ).
Cape Town residents can now report some crimes and by-law violations through the city’s Citi App instead of phoning an emergency line. (capetown.gov.za) The City of Cape Town said the new “Report & Protect” function went live on Monday, April 21, 2026. It was developed by the Safety and Security Directorate’s Emergency Policing Incident Control team, known as EPIC. (capetown.gov.za, ewn.co.za) For now, the app accepts reports in 17 sub-categories, including metal theft, public drinking, abandoned or broken-down vehicles, problem buildings and poaching. If a case does not fit an in-app category, users are directed to the Public Emergency Communication Centre on 021 480 7700. (capetown.gov.za, africannewsagency.com) The city says each report is automatically geolocated, routed to the relevant department and can include photographs. Registered users also receive safety alerts tied to incidents in surrounding areas. (capetown.gov.za) Cape Town is pitching the tool as a way to reduce pressure on call-takers by shifting lower-priority or easier-to-document incidents onto a digital channel. The city also said the app uses minimal data and said it hopes to make it free to use in the future. (capetown.gov.za, iol.co.za) Mayoral Committee member for Safety and Security JP Smith said the feature lets residents report incidents “in just a few taps” and submit them discreetly in public spaces. News coverage on April 22 also noted a second reaction: support for easier reporting alongside concern that dispatch and response staffing must keep up with a higher volume of digital reports. (capetown.gov.za, iol.co.za) The launch adds a safety function to an app the city already uses for municipal services and resident communication. It also leaves the phone line in place for incidents that fall outside the current menu, while officials phase in more reporting categories over time. (capetown.gov.za, capetownetc.com) For residents, the immediate change is simple: some emergency and by-law reports that used to start with a phone call can now start with a pin on a map, a photo and a few taps. (capetown.gov.za)
