Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal were the two provinces where more murders were committed with firearms than any other weapon. In most other provinces, the number of firearms used in murder was lower than the number of other weapons used.

Victims of Murder

The majority of victims of firearm murders in 1998 (85.5%) were between the ages of 18 and 49. In 1998, 10 509 persons in the above age group. 461 children under 12 years of age (3.7%), 358 youth between the ages of 12 and 17 years (2.9%) and 970 persons 50 years and older (7.9%) were killed with firearms.

Although the Western Cape records relatively low numbers of firearm murders of children under 11 years than most other provinces, the Western Cape has a high number of children presenting to hospital with firearm injuries. The following data was drawn from the records of the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town:

According to staff of the hospital, most children seen at the hospital for gunshot wounds fall prey to stray bullets during gang violence.

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