SA's world No 2 in gun violence

2004-07-02 08:39

Nicolene Louw

Cape Town - South Africa is the country with the highest incidence of gun-related violent crimes in Africa and, after Colombia in South America, holds the second place worldwide.

These are the findings of an annual report about the use of small arms by the Institute for International Studies in Geneva. The study is an initiative of the Swiss government, and is financed by a dozen Western governments.

Figures show that 30 out of every 100 000 people die in South Africa each year from gun-related violence.

In the past year, guns were used during 58.5% of all robberies and 48% of all murders.

- Die Burger