Freedom Day, a day meant to celebrate liberty, dignity, and safety for all, is a different story in Gauteng. Gauteng residents have freedom by law; however, physical movement is restricted by fear of falling victim to murder.
Gauteng has become the epicentre of crime, with its two metros, Johannesburg and Pretoria, ranking amongst the most dangerous cities in the world.
The latest crime statistics for the third quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year reveal a troubling trend. Firearms were used in 668 murders. This makes it clear that guns are the main driver of murder in Gauteng turning everyday disputes into deadly encounters.
However, removing firearms from lawful owners through the Firearms Control Amendment Bill, while illegal weapons continue to circulate freely, is not a solution. Instead, it risks penalising those who often serve as a first line of defence.
The DA has consistently stated that the real priority should be strengthening the prosecution of firearm-related offences. Without consistent consequences for illegal possession and use, offenders are emboldened and communities remain exposed to ongoing violence.
A recent example is the Emmarentia road rage shooting in Johannesburg, where a minor traffic dispute quickly turned into a deadly confrontation, leaving one man dead and another fatally wounded further makes urgent the need to hold offenders accountable.
Little wonder that Gauteng now accounts for 24.2% of all murders in South Africa, the highest share in the country. This effectively places Gauteng as the gun crime capital of South Africa.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) is committed to advocating for reforms that strengthens investigative capacity and improves conviction rates for firearm-related crimes. We also believe that empowering competent local governments by devolving policing powers could lead to effective responses in areas where national systems struggle with violent crimes.
Crezane Bosch MPL, DA Community Shadow MEC
Crezane Bosch
iol.co.za
