The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is deeply alarmed and angered by the escalating wave of mass shootings across the country and the increasing likelihood that heavily armed criminals can attack communities with little to no fear of being apprehended and brought to book.
The latest attacks in Wedela in the West Rand and Lwandle in the Western Cape over the weekend, which claimed 28 lives, followed days after 11 people were killed at a house in KwaMakhutha in KwaZulu-Natal. Dozens others were injured in the attacks.
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime has been quoted in several media articles saying there have been 41 mass shooting incidents since January this year, resulting in about 197 deaths. A mass shooting is defined as involving three or more victims per incident.
These incidents point to a disturbing pattern of indiscriminate violence wherein criminals armed with illegal firearms target public spaces and residential areas, opening fire on innocent people and disappearing.
COSATU is particularly concerned that these horrific incidents are occurring more frequently, risking normalising mass killings and creating the dangerous perception that culprits can kill with impunity. The fact that there have been no arrests following the latest attacks only serves to fuel these fears.
The Federation calls on government to demonstrate that those responsible for the carnage will be pursued relentlessly; that the criminal networks behind these ruthless attacks will be dismantled and the culprits prosecuted and jailed.
COSATU is also concerned about the impact of these violent incidents on working-class communities. Taverns, public spaces, homes and community gatherings should not become killing fields. Workers should be able to go to work, socialise with their families and friends, and participate in community activities without fear of deadly attacks. Every victim of these attacks represents a devastated family, traumatised children and a community torn apart. We cannot afford to become desensitised to these killings.
Given the calibre of firearms used in these massacres, COSATU calls for a national campaign against illegal firearms and ammunition, as well as strengthened Crime Intelligence capable of tracing and identifying criminal networks and disrupting planned attacks before they happen.
COSATU further calls on the Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, SAPS leadership, the National Prosecuting Authority and all other law-enforcement agencies to strengthen cooperation and put the fight against mass shootings, illegal firearms and organised crime at the centre of the country’s crime-fighting strategy.
The Federation sends its condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones and wishes those injured a speedy recovery.
Issued by COSATU
Zanele Sabela (COSATU Spokesperson)
Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639
Email: zaneles@cosatu.org.za