WC notes pressure on health system over festive season

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness said emergency, hospital, medical and forensic services were all under extreme pressure this festive season.

Data collected since 2 December 2025 until Friday 2 January 2026, shows hospital emergency centres in the province made a total of 74,300 admissions.

These included 18,600 trauma cases and 52,200 medical admissions.

The chief operating officer for the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, Dr Saadiq Kariem, said hospital emergency centres in the province treated 254 people for gunshot wounds in the last four weeks.

Kariem said 3,350 people were treated for stabbings during the same period.

"4,747 blunt assault cases, 626 motor vehicle accidents, 615 pedestrian-vehicle accidents, 2,940 accidents".

Kariem added that 453 people were treated for self-harm, while 307 sexual offence cases were recorded, along with 66 child abuse cases.