1. Impact of gun culture in SA
Dr Lane Benjamin
UCT (MA Clin Psych) Stellenbosch (Phd Psychology)

2. Generational and Continuous Trauma
Corruption
Drugs
Taxi wars
Teen Pregnancy
Prostitution
Gangs
Child abuse
Violence
Guns
Generational and Continuous Trauma

3. Hanover Park Polyvictimisation Study
Context of violence
Hanover Park Polyvictimisation Study
617 adolescents aged 12–15 years we found that:
98.9% had witnessed community violence
68.9% had seen someone get shot in the neighborhood
41.3% had witnessed someone threatening another with a gun
76.9% had witnessed domestic violence
47.7% seen a dead body in the street, excluding funerals
93.1% of participants had experienced more than one type of violence
55.2% had experienced four or more types of violence.
Kaminer, D., du Plessis, B., Hardy, A., & Benjamin, A. (2013).

4. CASE Connect © 2014
Compiled by Lane Benjamin

5. Level of interventions:
Deal with corruption at multiple sites (international and local interfaces):
“The army, police and foreigners like the Russians seem to be responsible for R1, R5 and automatic firearms finding their way into the hands of the gangs.” Male Youth, 18yrs
Competent, effective and trustworthy criminal justice processes
“The slow process of getting an arrest and conviction gives the impression that the police are in cahoots with gang leaders and the community does not trust the police no more.” Male Youth, 21 yrs

6. Integrated Deeper Approach to addressing trauma
Major Sites of intervention:
Criminal Justice
Education
Health
Social development
Poverty
Employment
“It’s one thing to get rid of the guns but we also have to disarm people’s minds.” Community-based Counsellor

7. References:
Brave Heart, M. Y. H., Chase, J., Elkins, J., & Altschul, D. B. (2011). Historical trauma among Indigenous Peoples of the Americas: concepts, research, and clinical considerations. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 43(4), doi: /
Garbarino, J. (2015). Listening to Killers. Lessons Learned from My Twenty Years as a Psychological Expert Witness in Murder Cases. UCLA Press.
Memmott, P., Stacy, P., Chambers, C., & Keys, C. (2001). Violence in Indigenous communities. Canberra: Commonwealth Attorney General's Department. Retrieved from in
Kaminer, D., du Plessis, B., Hardy, A., & Benjamin, A. (2013, April 8). Exposure to Violence Across Multiple Sites Among Young South African Adolescents. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. Advance online publication. doi: /a