South Africa’s gun violence epidemic

Non-government organisation Gun Free South Africa’s latest firearms control briefing report shows that South Africa’s gun violence epidemic kills 30 people a day, injures 180 more, and costs the country billions of rands in direct and indirect costs.

According to the report, gun violence is the leading cause of murder in South Africa. The number of people murdered by gunshot has increased from 5,417 in 2016 to 8,388 in 2021, representing a 54.8% increase.

Additionally, the percentage of murders from gunshots has increased by 11% over the same period. In 2016, 29% of all murders resulted from a gunshot, which increased to 42% in 2021.

In 2022, 30 people were murdered by gunshot in South Africa every day between 1 April and 30 June 2022, which is up from the 23 killed in 2020 over the same period, the group said.

Remarkably, statistics from the South African Police Department (SAPS) show that increased policing and the ban on alcohol during the Covid-19 pandemic had little impact on the number of murders committed with firearms. It did, however, result in a decline in stabbing-related murders, as did almost all other crimes.

The SAPS’ quarterly crime statistics for 1 April to 30 June 2022 include information on the weapon used in 72% of murders in South Africa, showing that:

• 2,766 people were murdered with a firearm; and
• 1,380 were murdered with a sharp weapon – 935 with a knife, and 445 with a “sharp instrument”.

While murder in South Africa most often involves a gun, other crimes such as attempted murder, carjacking, and truck hijacking are also high on the list regarding the possible use of firearms – all of which have seen a steady increase over the last five years, said Gun Free SA.

Injuries caused by gunshots

While 30 people or more are killed in South Africa daily by gunshot, many more are severely injured – leading to disability, said Gun Free SA.

According to the NGO’s report, as many as 180 people survive a gunshot every day in South Africa – often with severe disabilities – following a penetrating injury to the brain, spinal cord or abdomen.

The report highlighted a study conducted in 2014 that found traffic accidents are the leading cause of traumatic spinal cord injuries worldwide, including for patients treated at private healthcare facilities in South Africa. However, in Cape Town’s government hospitals, gunshots overtook traffic injuries as the leading cause of spinal cord injuries.

Gun violence costs South Africa billions

Gun Free SA noted that in 2014, an estimated R6 billion – 4% of South Africa’s National Health Budget – was spent treating gunshot-injured patients at state hospitals nationally.

The NGO added that if you account for inflation, this translates to around R9 billion as of October 2022 – a figure that only includes medical treatment costs and excludes other direct and indirect costs.

These other potential direct and indirect costs, as outlined by the report, are:

• Direct costs – The hard costs resulting after someone is shot and killed or injured, and include emergency transport, medical care in hospital and post-discharge, and expenses associated with the criminal justice system (police, courts and prisons).

• Indirect costs – The potential wages and household productivity lost by victims/survivors and perpetrators, costs to the employer and quality of life costs, which estimate the financial value of the pain, suffering, and fear accompanying a death or injury.

• Other costs – The losses resulting from ‘brain drain’ emigration as skilled South Africans relocate to safer countries and the negative impacts on investment as potential investors are deterred by the risk of violent crime in South Africa.

Read: New tactic used by criminals to steal keyless cars in South Africa