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Gun Free SA says 16% conviction rate is too low

Published

The group says the 16% conviction rate for illegal firearm possession does not match how serious the offence is. The City of Cape Town's Safety and Security Directorate said it recovered 22 illegal firearms over eight days.

Claire Taylor, Senior Research and Policy Analyst at Gun Free SA, said that for every one conviction, four to five people are not convicted. She said the organisation welcomes the recoveries, but the low conviction rate cannot be ignored.

Taylor said: "And we need to hold people accountable by sending a strong message that illegal firearm possession is a serious offence".

The City said its Law Enforcement and Metro Police departments confiscated 61 firearms between July and September.

Key facts

Who
Claire Taylor (Senior Research and Policy Analyst, Gun Free SA); Gun Free SA (NGO that issued the statement); City of Cape Town Safety and Security Directorate (City directorate that reported the firearm recoveries)
What
Gun Free SA said the low conviction rate for illegal firearm possession does not match the severity of the offence. The City of Cape Town's Safety and Security Directorate said it had recovered 22 illegal firearms over the past eight days.
When
27 October 2026
Where
Cape Town
Status
Reported

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