Official parliamentary data has reignited South Africa’s debate over firearm crime after revealing that illegal guns were used in almost every firearm-related murder recorded over the past four financial years.
Statistics released in response to parliamentary questions indicate that 41,297 murders were committed with illegal or unlicensed firearms between the 2022/23 and 2025/26 financial years. That equates to more than 28 people being killed every day with illegally possessed guns.
The figures were highlighted by Freedom Front Plus (FF+) MP and police spokesperson Wouter Wessels, who argued that the country’s firearm violence is overwhelmingly driven by criminals using illegal weapons rather than licensed firearm owners.
During the same four-year period, only 393 deaths were linked to legally licensed firearms. Wessels noted that some of those incidents may have involved lawful self-defence, suggesting the number of unlawful killings committed with licensed firearms could be even lower.
The data also revealed that firearms previously owned by the South African Police Service (SAPS) were linked to dozens of murders over the same period, raising additional concerns about weapons lost or diverted from state control.
H3 Debate over firearm legislation continues
The latest statistics have intensified discussion around proposed amendments to South Africa’s Firearms Control Act.
AfriForum’s community safety spokesperson, Jacques Broodryk, said the figures demonstrate that tighter restrictions on licensed firearm owners would do little to reduce violent crime if illegal firearms remain widely available.
According to the parliamentary response, South Africa recorded 9,398 firearm-related murders during the 2025/26 financial year. Of those, only 75 cases—approximately 0.8%—involved the legal owner of a licensed firearm, while 9,323 murders, or 99.2%, involved illegal firearms.
Broodryk argued that the numbers point to organised crime and illegal firearm trafficking as the central drivers of gun violence rather than lawful firearm ownership.
He also highlighted that firearms previously belonging to SAPS, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and metropolitan police departments were linked to 46 murders during the same financial year.
Supporters of stricter firearm legislation, however, have argued in previous public debates that stronger controls over firearm ownership and improved regulation can contribute to reducing the diversion of weapons into criminal markets, alongside intensified law enforcement.
H3 Authorities continue targeting illegal firearms
The South African Gun Association (SAGA) said the four-year trend reinforces the distinction between licensed firearm owners and criminals operating outside the law.
Chairperson Damian Enslin said responsible firearm owners are legally required to comply with licensing regulations, whereas criminals routinely ignore firearm laws altogether.
Meanwhile, security forces continue operations aimed at disrupting organised crime and recovering illegal weapons.
According to SANDF spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mpho Mathebula, Operation Prosper—a joint initiative involving the military and police—has resulted in the arrest of 717 suspects for offences linked to illegal mining, organised crime and gang activity.
Authorities have also seized 24 illegal firearms and 1,928 rounds of ammunition during the operation. Arrests include suspects facing charges ranging from murder and illegal firearm possession to ammunition offences and violations of immigration legislation.
The latest figures underscore the scale of South Africa’s illegal firearm problem while highlighting the continuing challenge faced by law enforcement agencies in preventing illicit weapons from reaching criminal networks.
Source: The Citizen / Parliamentary replies / South African Police