GBV panic alerts are revealing a hidden side of South Africa’s gender-based violence crisis.
Some people in danger are reaching for a panic button meant for car breakdowns.
And the data shows just how often it’s happening.
Most of the alerts involved domestic abuse.
Between 14 July and 1 October 2026, the Automobile Association of South Africa’s emergency response service received 88 panic alerts tagged as gender-based or sexual violence.
That’s more than one a day.
WHAT THE GBV PANIC ALERTS SHOW
The alerts came through a private emergency network designed mainly for motorists and roadside breakdowns.
The service tagged the 88 alerts as follows:
- Domestic abuse: 61
- Gender-based violence: 14
- Rape: 12
- Sexual offences: 4
- Stalking: 1
Some alerts carried more than one tag.
With 61 of the 88 alerts tagged as domestic abuse, most involved violence at home, which usually comes from a partner or family member.
A CRISIS THAT HASN’T LET UP
The alerts come during a period of intense public concern about gender-based violence (GBV).
By 5 October, the number of women killed in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, since July had reached 12.
Between April and June 2026, police recorded 569 women murdered and another 1,052 women who survived attempted murder.
One in three women in South Africa will experience physical or sexual violence during her lifetime, according to the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at Wits University.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING
On Tuesday, 29 September, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced new measures to tackle violence against women, following the Ekurhuleni killings.
He ordered police and the National Prosecuting Authority to review unresolved murder, attempted murder, rape and other GBV cases within 90 days.
He said the reviews would be followed by funded plans to tackle hotspots and case backlogs.
“This cannot be accepted as a normal part of life in South Africa,” Ramaphosa said.
WHY THE DATA MATTERS
Private panic alerts only capture a small part of the picture.
Many survivors never report abuse at all.
But the figures show that people in danger are reaching for whatever help is closest, even when that help exists for a different purpose.
WHERE TO GET HELP
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, call the GBV Command Centre on 0800 428 428, available 24/7. You can also dial *120*7867# from any cellphone, free of charge.
In an emergency, contact the South African Police Service (SAPS) on 10111, or dial 112 from any cellphone.
WHAT MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO PROTECT WOMEN IN SOUTH AFRICA?
Let us know in the comments below…