Firearms still major killers

2003-12-23 17:56

Cape Town - Firearms were once again the leading cause of non-natural death in South Africa in 2002, according to the fourth annual report of the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS).

The report, released on Tuesday, said that firearms accounted for 27.8% of all non-natural deaths recorded by the NIMSS in 2002, a slight increase on the 27.6% in 2001.

Firearms again accounted for more deaths than road traffic collisions, which accounted for 25% of all non-natural deaths.

They were the leading cause of fatal injury for those between 15 and 65 years, and of the total of 7 081 deaths recorded by the NIMSS, 89% were due to homicide, 10% suicide and 0.5% were accidental.

Murders and suicides peaked in December

Along with the current media focus on motor-vehicle crashes during the festive season, the NIMSS data show that in 2002 homicide and suicide fatalities also peaked during December.

The NIMSS data showed a strong association between alcohol and injury, particularly homicides and transport fatalities. In 2002 more than half of all drivers and nearly 60% of pedestrians killed on our roads were under the influence of alcohol.

Victims of homicide were similarly intoxicated, with nearly 53% under the influence.

Holidaymakers were encouraged to behave responsibly during the festive season, by not over-indulging in alcohol or illicit drugs, not carrying weapons and avoiding areas where there is a risk of violence.

The fourth NIMSS annual report covered the period January 1 to December 31, 2002 and described 25 494 fatal injuries that were registered at 34 mortuaries in six of South Africa's nine provinces.

Estimates for the total number of non-natural deaths in South Africa range from between 70 000 and 80 000 annually accounting for between 12% and 15% of all mortality, including natural causes.

The NIMSS data accounted for between 35% and 40% of all the non-natural deaths in South Africa and were biased towards large urban areas.

Full coverage was achieved in six of South Africa's largest cities: Cape Town, Durban, East London, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria, enabling the calculation of inter-city homicide, suicide and transport mortality rates.

- SAPA