Briefing 3 of 2018: Constitutional Court unanimously rules regular gun licence renewal is constitutional – What next?
On 7 June 2018 the Constitutional Court unanimously ruled that sections 24 and 28 of the Firearms Control Act (2000), under which gun owners must renew their firearm licences on a regular basis or forfeit guns for which licences have expired to the state, are constitutional.
In making its judgement, the ConCourt ruled that gun ownership is not a fundamental right […]
Briefing 2 of 2018: Cape Town proves strong gun laws save lives, lax enforcement kills, illegally supplied guns more dangerous in short term
Over the years Gun Free SA has raised concern that poor enforcement of the Firearms Control Act (2000) has led to thousands of people being shot and killed. Published research from South Africa now proves this link, showing that strong gun laws save lives, lax enforcement kills, and that illegally channelled guns kill more people in the short term.
In sum, […]
Briefing 1 of 2018: Police killings – Protecting members and their families
In mid March Constable Buti shot and killed his wife before turning the gun on himself following an argument; the couple’s 6-year old child witnessed the shootings. A week earlier Sergeant Brooks shot and killed his girlfriend, her mother and himself during a hostage incident. While parliament and police unions have reacted with shock, the tragic reality is that police […]
Briefing 8 of 2017: The life-cycle of a gun – Tracking how guns leak between cradle and grave
The purpose of the Firearms Control Act (FCA) is to “establish a comprehensive and an effective system of firearms control.” In other words, the FCA aims to create an integrated system which regulates all guns in South Africa, from cradle to grave; including their manufacture, trade, possession, use and destruction. By controlling all these aspects, South Africa’s FCA-informed firearms control […]
Briefing 7 of 2017: SA needs a #TopCop with Right Skills Set
As South Africa marks the fifth anniversary of the Marikana Massacre, this Briefing unpacks a key lesson emerging from the tragedy: If the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) had had the necessary skills, knowledge and experience, Marikana would never have happened.
But Marikana is not an isolated incident; poor police leadership over the years has led to […]
Briefing 6 of 2017: Reducing illicit arms flows – Contributing to sustainable development
In September 2015, the United Nations member states, including South Africa, adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, replacing the Millennium Development Goals, with a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets.
A significant shift in the development of these new goals was the recognition that a broader range of factors such as violence and insecurity contribute to […]
