Daily terror: the hidden crisis facing Cape Town's female commuters

HARROWING

- NOKUBONGA NDLOVU

CAPE Town women face fear and harassment on public transport, prompting vigilance, avoidance, and calls for better security and policing.

(FILE)

FOR thousands of Cape Town's female commuters, the start of the day is overshadowed by fear as they board taxis, buses, and trains carrying the heavy burden of anxiety.

Public transport, while a vital link to work, school, and livelihood, has become a hotbed of gender-based violence, with daily journeys often exposing women to robbery, assault, harassment, and intimidation.

According to a study done by the University of Cape Town, over 56% of female commuters expressed their worry about the walk from and to the stations. This stark reality underscores the pervasive danger women face in public spaces.