Official figures reveal that 10,613 people in South Africa were murdered using unlicensed firearms during the 2022/2023 financial year, compared to 120 murdered with legally owned guns, according to data presented by the police ministry. The statistics indicate that nearly all firearm-related murders are committed with illegal weapons, underscoring challenges in firearm control and public safety.

Illegal Firearms Dominate South Africa’s Homicide Statistics

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), from October to December 2024, firearms were used in 2,886 of the 6,953 murders recorded countrywide. Police Minister Senzo Mchunu stated, “We know that murder and weapons, that is firearms, and illegal firearms, go hand in hand,” during a recent media briefing reported by Eyewitness News. Further investigation presented by IOL in January 2026 found that 99% of illegal firearms in the country now originate domestically, a reversal from previous decades when cross-border smuggling was more prevalent.

Domestic Sources And Systemic Failures Highlighted

Experts confirm systemic failures in South Africa’s firearms control. Gun Free SA’s Claire Taylor noted, “Cross-border smuggling has declined significantly since the 1990s,” pointing to leakages from police and military stockpiles as the main source of illegal guns. BusinessTech has reported that over 1,000 murders in recent years have been committed using firearms that were once in SAPS possession, highlighting the breakdown in legal firearm management and accountability.

The government faces increasing pressure to tighten firearm management strategies, with advocates urging stronger oversight of police and military arsenals to stem the domestic flow of weapons into the criminal market.

Any new measures or investigative findings from SAPS or Parliament are expected to be announced in the coming months.