Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
19 June 2024 | 17:44 CAT

Shocking: 58 gun-related deaths this year alone. Pictures: Brendan Magaar/African News Agency(ANA)

Every year, around 200 children are killed in the Western Cape. Many of them are victims of the gunshots fired as part of gang violence playing out across the province, experts say.

Hanover Park, Manenberg, Eerste River, Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha and Nyanga are just some areas where children have been caught in the crossfire.

The Western Cape Department of Health said that between 1 January and 12 June 2024, public health facilities across the province attended to 333 children with firearm-related injuries.

Of that number, 58 died as a result of their injuries.

“Three of these children who died as a result of a firearm are children under the age of 3. While we do not yet have the full picture of 2024 to compare to previous years, we can compare child homicides due to a firearm from 2022 to 2023,” the department said.

According to the department, there were 83 child deaths due to firearms among its records from 2022. This number rose to 89 deaths in 2023.

According to statistics shared by GunFree SA, since 2014, the leading cause of non-abuse-related murders for children is gunshot wounds (49.2%).

The organization said the victims of this gun violence were often children simply playing in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Research shows that children are disproportionately affected by stray bullets fired into the air or at missed targets, the organization said.

Speaking to Radio Islam International, Director of Gun Free SA Adele Kirsten expressed deep concern.

“These figures are very alarming and concerning. The impact on families and society is enormous, affecting our health system and traumatizing communities with high levels of gun violence,” Kirsten said.

“We’re barely six months into this year, and the death toll of children from gun violence has already surged. This is partly due to the ready availability of guns.”

“Unless there is a dramatic and drastic intervention, the Western Cape will post incredibly high gun deaths of children under the age of 12,” Kirsten added.

Kirsten highlighted that a study carried out at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital between 2001 and 2011 found the largest portion of the injured children were between the ages of 8 and 12.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Director of Gun Free SA Adele Kirsten here.