BRIEFING 2 of 2020: Implications of Supreme Court of Appeal judgement upholding firearm licence renewals
On 23 July 2020 the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) set aside an egregious interdict granted by the North Gauteng High Court which disabled South Africa’s firearm licence renewals and termination system. In its ruling the SCA affirmed that gun ownership is not a fundamental right under SA’s Bill of Rights, but a privilege regulated by the Firearms Control Act; […]
Briefing 1 of 2020: How South Africa can help silence the guns in Africa
When South Africa assumed chairing the African Union (AU) for 2020 last month, President Cyril Ramaphosa prioritised the AU’s Silencing the Guns agenda as a strategy to creating conducive environments for Africa’s development.
Our president’s championing of the Silencing the Guns agenda contrasts sharply with our national context as was tragically illustrated this past weekend when seven people were killed, and […]
Briefing 6 of 2019: Firearms amnesties – Four key factors for success
Yesterday’s announcement by the Gauteng Department of Health that gunshots have overtaken motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of non natural death in the province underscores how urgently action is needed to reduce the availability of guns in South Africa.
The chance of being shot is not random. For someone to be shot, there must be a gun. When […]
Briefing 5 of 2019: Gun control and violence – South Africa’s story over 25 years
Yesterday’s news that parliament’s police portfolio committee has approved a firearms amnesty – the fourth in South Africa’s history – is warmly welcomed.
It’s also perfectly timed, as today marks the first day of global disarmament week (24-30 October), which has been observed annually around the world since 1978.
To commemorate disarmament week, Gun Free South Africa has published a comprehensive […]
Briefing 4 of 2019: Women under the gun – Actions to protect women from gun violence
This past August – which is women’s month – 93 women were shot and killed, an average of three women a day.
To give a face, a name, a story to this number, to this horror, Gun Free South Africa collected information on just 21 women who were shot and killed this year to symbolise the number of women shot […]
Briefing 3 of 2019: Halving crime in SA needs effective gun control
Briefing 3 of 2019 was issued on 9 July, which has been declared by the UN as #GunDestructionDay, making it the official date for the destruction of small arms worldwide.
On 9 July, as on every other day, 23 people will be shot and killed across South Africa. The vast majority of these deaths will not be reported on as they […]
