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 […]
Briefing 2 of 2019: Western Cape mortuary surveillance shows gun deaths doubled in 6 years
Firearms Control Briefing 2 of 2019 summarises a comprehensive report Western Cape Injury Mortality Profile: 2010-2016, which tracks the pattern of fatal injuries in the Western Cape over seven years.
The report shows that gun deaths in the province have doubled between 2010 and 2016.
Although dramatic and higher than the national average, the pattern of steadily rising gun deaths in recent […]
Briefing 1 of 2019: How many guns are there in SA? The importance of stockpile management
The first Firearms Control Briefing for 2019 looks at the importance of managing weapons stockpiles as a guarantor of peace, security and development.It argues that stockpile management is broader than securing state-owned weapons and ammunition stocks. Instead it incorporates managing all weapons and ammunition stocks – state and civilian – through five distinct actions:
- Safe storage;
- Scheduled audits;
- Regular collections;
[…]
Briefing 6 of 2018: Licence renewals – A cornerstone of gun control
The sixth Briefing of 2018 coincides with a debate on proposed amendments to the law governing the renewal of firearm licences in Parliament on 6 November.
It locates firearm licence renewals within a global context in recognition that regular gun licence renewals are integral to public safety: Renewals ensure that licensed gun owners remain “fit and proper” for this responsibility and […]
Briefing 5 of 2018: Are guns effective for self-defence? Examining the evidence
This fifth Briefing of 2018 coincides with Disarmament Week, which is marked globally from 24 to 30 October. This year, the United Nations is highlighting the link between arms races, disarmament and the Sustainable Development Goals of 2030.
It shows that in the context of rising crime and mistrust in the police, some South Africans are choosing to buy guns for […]
Briefing 4 of 2018: QUICK FACTS – Guns and violence in South Africa
Brief 4 summarises the latest statistics and data on guns and violence in South Africa, including on gun-related death, disability and the impact of the Firearms Control Act.
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 […]
