Gun violence remains a significant issue in the Western Cape province of South Africa, with many homicides caused by firearms. In response to this growing problem, the Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, has initiated the relaunch of a reward system to encourage the public to report illegal firearms’ whereabouts.
Recent efforts to address the root causes of crime in the Western Cape have arrested several suspects for illegal firearm possession. The arrests were made following a shooting in Manenberg, where a 13yearold boy was injured. As a result, antigang unit members increased their efforts and apprehended a 34yearold woman attempting to dispose of a CZ pistol with a fully loaded magazine containing 15 rounds. The illegal firearm and ammunition led to the possibility that it was linked to the shooting of the 13yearold, and the matter is currently under investigation.