Zuma raises concerns over increasing gun violence
November 6, 2014, 4:12 pm

Team members of Orlando Pirates pay thier last respect to Senzo Meyiwa during the funeral of Senzo Meyiwa at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Nov. 1, 2014 [Xinhua]

“Let me emphasise that we are seriously concerned about the proliferation of guns in our society and the level of violence that we have seen on display,” Zuma said in an annual address at the National Assembly.

“To this end, police will take advantage of the proposed changes in the Firearms Control Act to introduce more stringent measures for gun control and ownership,” he added.

Zuma’s comments come in the backdrop of the latest official data that the murder rate in South Africa has gone up for the second consecutive year, with 17, 068 murders in 2013/14, amounting to 47 murders a day, a majority of which involved the use of firearms.

Zuma’s remarks followed similar appeals by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) which calls for strengthening gun control measures.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is said to be working out plans for a consolidated information technology (IT) system and a clean firearms database to ensure an effective firearms control.

There have been complaints over poor IT systems and a shortage of manpower, which affect the manner in which firearm applications are managed and controlled.

There has been outrage in South Africa after former Bafana Bafana captain Senzo Meyiwa was shot and murdered last Sunday. ANC Member of Parliament Jackson Mthembu was also shot while withdrawing money from an ATM on October 19.

Zuma said the fight against crime continues to be a high priority for the government, with an alarmingly high rate of armed robberies at malls and shopping centres in all provinces, especially in Gauteng and the Western Cape.

A police anti-crime campaign encompasses various activities during the forthcoming 16 Days of Activism on Violence against Women and Children which begins on November 25.

“We urge the public to participate actively so that we eliminate all forms of abuse of women and children,” Zuma said.

TBP and Agencies