In April 2024 GFSA put forward a proposal to develop the world’s first Bulletproof Park in Mitchells Plain on the Cape Flats as one way to protect children from being shot and injured or killed in crossfire.

Crafted by architects, community stakeholders and safety experts, the planned park would be entirely enveloped in bulletproof glass, with secure entrances and panic buttons, delivering the delights of a typical playground with slides and monkey bars while ensuring the safety of children from stray bullets.

Everyone had something to say about the proposal.

To assess the Park’s feasibility, GFSA consulted a range of stakeholders. The overall finding is that a Bulletproof Park is a bullet solution to SA’s gun violence problem and will have limited impact protecting children from crossfire.

Read the summary Bulletproof Park feasibility report HERE

Instead of building Bulletproof Parks, we should be looking at ways for communities to get rid of guns completely. Actions that you can take to make a difference include:

• Ahead of the 29 May elections, speak to political party representatives to understand their view on gun control as a critical step to addressing gun violence before simply voting
• Make homes and school Gun Free Zones
• Hand in legal guns to be destroyed so that they don’t make their way out onto the streets
• Report illegal guns and gun use anonymously to 08600-10111
• Arm yourself with the facts about the risks and myths of getting a gun for self-defence