1 Institute for Security Studies Arms Management Programme Safety and Security Portfolio Committee 14 August 2002

2 The Impact of Firearms in South Africa

3 Briefing Overview Firearms, crime and violence in South Africa Public opinion on firearms International trends South Africa’s response Can South Africa go gun-free?

4 Firearms, Crime and Violence Overview of firearm use in South Africa : 3.76 million licensed firearms for private use illegal guns in circulation 82 privately-owned guns are lost or stolen every day - a number that has nearly doubled since 1994 Continuous leakage from the licensed, privately owned and state-owned pools of firearms into illegal circulation

5 Firearms & Crime: Robbery Source: CIMC

6 Firearms & Crime: Murder Source: R Chetty and CIMC

7 Firearms & Crime: Murder Use of firearms in murder: Account for weapon used in 50% of murder Firearm murder highest cause of non-natural death in South Africa Source: NIMSS

Source: R Chetty and CIMC 8 Firearms & Crime: Police Deaths

Source: ISS 9 Snapshot: Firearms & Crime in Hillbrow Firearms used in assault 34% Guns used in robbery 55% Firearms used in witnessed murders 84% Guns used in hijackings 97% Guns used in burglary when someone was at home 32%

10 Firearms & Violence: Suicide Young men most at risk of suicide Whites most likely to use a firearm to commit suicide Gauteng and Northern Cape lead firearm suicides Source: NIMSS

11 Firearms & Violence: Non-fatal Injury Most non-fatal injury perpetrated with a sharp or blunt object Firearms account for only 16% of non-fatal injury Source: NIMSS

Source: CIMC 12 Firearms & Illegal Use

13 Firearms & Loss Source: R Chetty

Source: CIMC 14 Firearms & Legal Users 3.76 m firearms licensed to individuals 2.2 m firearms licensed to 660,000 individuals 500,000 licensed to government departments 95,000 licensed to institutions (e.g. private security)

Source: CIMC 15 Firearms & Legal Users

Source: HSRC survey and ISS 16 Public Opinion About 50% of South Africans support restricting possession of firearms to security forces For those who own guns for self- defence, most common reason is to protect oneself Most people look to policing and government structures to reduce impact of firearms on communities

Source: HSRC survey 17 Who Should Own a Gun?

Source: HSRC survey 18 Who Should Own a Gun?

Source: HSRC survey 19 Who Should Own a Gun?

Source: HSRC survey 20 Use of a Firearm for Self-defence

Source: HSRC survey 21 Use of a Firearm for Self- defence

Source: ISS 22 Public Opinion 40% of people would be willing to own a gun Reasons to own a firearm: Self-defence (77%) Security concerns (12%) If security improved, over 80% would encourage people to stop owning guns

Source: ISS 23 Public Opinion: Recommended Action Limit firearm sales3% Restrict manufacturing 3% Ban all firearms4% Tighten gun laws8% Stricter licensing9% Restrict ownership15% Implement laws15% Confiscate unlicensed firearms25% Community involvement30% More police/assistance to police42%

24 International Trends Use of guns in crime and violence increased globally between 1970s- 1990s, appears to be stabilising Dual approach focusing on legal and illegal firearms New legislation limiting users, use and types of weapons Canada, Australia, Brazil, UK, South Africa, under review in most SADC countries Increased priority given to illegal firearms in policing South Africa, UK, Brazil, Kenya, Tanzania

25 International Trends Public support for limiting access to firearms Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Brazil, Canada, European countries Increased cooperation among police forces to combat organised crime and trafficking of goods Southern Africa, Americas, Europe, UN Convention on Organised Crime, UN Firearms Protocol and UN Programme of Action on Small Arms

Source: CIMC, CDOJ, Ryerson, Kings College 26 International Comparisons: Firearm Robberies

Source: CDOJ, CIMC, Ryerson. Data for Brazil 1995, others International Comparisons: Firearm Murders

28 South Africa’s Response Firearms Control Act Restrictions on ownership and use Improving police capacity Improving systems to track and monitor firearm owners SAPS Strategic Plan - priority on firearms Surplus weapons destruction policies Improving control over state-owned weapons Supporting sub-regional and international initiatives

29 Benefits Improving record-keeping and training Encouraging more responsible firearm ownership Reducing types and numbers of firearms in legal circulation Removing surplus/obsolete firearms Training specialised firearms officers within SAPS Increasing regional cooperation (e.g. positive impact of Operations Rachel)

30 Challenges Loss of specialised firearms units Monitoring, spot checking lapsed Delay in training detectives in firearms- related issues Mandate and function of DFOs - administrative not investigative Relicensing and collecting excess/illegal firearms Implementation and enforcement of Act by SAPS

31 Can South Africa go Gun- free? Pros Cost of firearms to society (80% of non-natural deaths were males, with majority in year range) Public support around 50% for limiting ownership Linkages between legal and illegal firearms recognised South Africa’s neighbours would be relieved Cons Insecurity and perceived need for firearms Legacy of past and unequal access to guns Ability of SAPS to implement new law Political will to take initiative

32 Thank you! Sources used Institute for Security Studies SAPS CIMC NIMSS 2001 Annual Report HSRC 2001 national survey Department of Justice, Canada Ryerson University, Canada Kings College, England