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Seen as a rate, most firearm-related crimes are showing increases. Robbery with firearms increased most dramatically, from 131.6 per 100 000 of the population in 1997 to 165.0 per 100 000 of the population in 1998.
The section which follows examines in greater detail the use of firearms in the perpetration of three of the most violent crimes, viz. Murder, Attempted Murder and Robbery.
The Use of Firearms in Murder and Attempted Murder
Murder
Firearms have been playing an increasing role in the commission of murder between 1994 and 1998. In 1998, 49.4% of all reported murders in South Africa (12 298 out of 24 875) were carried out using firearms.
The table below illustrates the increases in murders with firearms between 1994 and 1998:
| Table 3: Number of Murders with Firearms 1994-1998 |
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| 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | |
| Total Murder | 26 832 | 26 637 | 25 782 5 | 24 588 | 24 87 |
| Murder with Firearm |
11 134 | 11 056 | 11 394 | 11 224 | 12 298 |
| Firearm Murders as a percentage of the total |
41.5% | 41.5% | 44.2% | 45.6% | 49.4% |
| SOURCE: SAPS CIAC | |||||
The chart below illustrates the trend in cases of murder where firearms were used, as a proportion of all murders from 1994 to 1998:
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While the overall number of murders reported between 1994 and 1998 declined, murders committed with firearms increased by 10% between the two years. This indicates that firearms are increasingly the weapon of choice in murder. Moreover,
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