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NOTHING more sinister could have convinced Gun Free South Africa's Thembelani Dyule of the rightness of his cause than the evening in December last year when he was shot through right ear. The bullet exited through his forehead, just above his right eyebrow.

For this young man of 29, who has set his sights on a society without guns, the incident has strengthened his resolve.

He is very angry with the government for not applying stringent measures to curb ownership of guns by the South African public.

"That rightful owners continue to lose their guns to criminals shows that the criteria for issuing gun licences has loopholes. Despite gun losses, the authorities still issue licences. It's a reckless cycle," he said.

This is the second time in as many years that he has faced death at the hands of thugs with guns in their hands.

His last nightmare began on a Wednesday December 10. He was chatting to a female friend in his car, a few metres from the Nyanga police station.

There was a knock on his window by a stranger. Since he could not recognise him, he thought it best to start his car and move off.

"Something told me it was a hijack in progress," he says. "As the car moved, I saw six other guys standing at the rear of the car. I panicked and tried to accelerate."

The next thing he remembers is his car surrounded by police with flashlights in their hands.

Dyule had been shot twice, once in the ear with the exit wound on his forehead. The other bullet struck him on his shoulder blade and stayed there.

He lost control of his vehicle and it crashed into a tree. Now it is a writeoff.

He refuses to see his car, or revisit the scence since the crash.

"I'm hurt and I do not want to open healing wounds," he says.

It is a miracle that no damage was done to his eye and ear, although he is attending therapy for his right arm because its reflexes have been affected.

He spent the following nine days in the intensive care unit of Vincent Palloti hospital in Pinelands.

Dyule still cannot explain his miraculous survival, but blames society for the proliferation of stolen guns in the communities.

In October, 2002, Dyule's house in Old Crossroads was invaded by six armed thugs in broad daylight who made off with his goods.

He is certain that the thugs used stolen guns in both instances.

According to him incidents like these could be avoided if the government spent resources to find out why legal owners continue to loose their firearms.

"They should see whether it is worth it to issue more firearm licences, despite the fact that people lose weapons as fast as they obtain them," Dyule said.

Dyule still wonders why the men attacked him.

"I do not know them, nor owe them anything, and would like to know why they shot me."

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