Cut Off Gun Supply Chains To Stop Western Cape Gang Violence, Warns GFSA

Gun Free South Africa (GFSA) has called on authorities to intensify efforts to dismantle the networks supplying firearms to gang leaders, warning that meaningful progress against gang violence depends on cutting off access to weapons.

The appeal comes as shootings in the Western Cape continue unabated, despite the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to identified gang hotspots three weeks ago.

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The military intervention, aimed at stabilising affected communities, has yet to significantly curb the violence.

While the joint operation has led to 21 arrests, most cases relate to the possession of drugs, illegal firearms and ammunition rather than dismantling the broader networks behind the supply of weapons.

Western Cape Gang Violence Persists Despite SANDF Intervention

GFSA director Stanley Maphosa said current enforcement efforts fall short of addressing the root of the problem. He argued that authorities should place greater emphasis on disrupting the channels through which firearms reach gangs.

According to Maphosa, simply recovering illegal weapons is not enough if the origins and distribution routes remain unexamined.

Calls For Gun Tracing Transparency And Public Disclosure

Maphosa stressed the importance of ballistic testing for all recovered firearms, adding that the findings should be made public to improve accountability and transparency.

“Whether they originated from civilians, from the State or cross-border, that information must be put in the public arena,” he said.

He also called for a comprehensive audit of government firearm stockpiles, alongside tighter regulation of legally owned firearms, as part of broader efforts to prevent weapons from ending up in criminal hands.

GFSA maintains that without decisive action targeting the supply chain, efforts to combat gang-related violence will remain limited. The organisation continues to advocate for stricter firearm controls and improved oversight mechanisms.