Gun Free South Africa has condemned the latest spate of gun-related violence on the Cape Flats. The organisation says the incidents are not isolated attacks, but part of a long-standing public safety crisis that demands urgent action.

The comment follows several shooting incidents in areas including Kayamandi, Manenberg and, most recently, Gugulethu, where five people were killed on Monday.

Also read: A bloody weekend with 16 killed in shootings across the Western Cape

Executive Director of Gun Free South Africa, Stanley Maphosa, says while the motives behind the attacks may differ, they all have one thing in common: the firearms used to commit the crimes are illegal.

Maphosa says more must be done to reduce corruption, remove illegal firearms from circulation, and prevent more weapons from ending up in the hands of criminals.

“Illegal firearms don’t just appear out of nowhere. We should ask ourselves where these firearms come from. We must bring an end to the issue of illegal gun use. This requires intelligence-led policing against organised crime and gangs, the systematic tracing of every recovered firearm to identify how it entered criminal hands, stronger implementation of the current Firearms Control Act, and closing the loopholes that exist in it. We also have to create an efficient and accountable Central Firearms Registry and take firm action against corruption and firearm diversion whenever and wherever it occurs.”

 

Maphosa says while the South African Police Service (SAPS) plays an important role in ensuring the safety of residents, other interventions are equally important.

“Lasting investments in safety are required, especially for young people. Violence prevention programmes, support for families and victims, and stronger partnerships between government, communities, civil society groups and other key role players are needed to address the conditions that allow violence to persist.”