BUILDING SAFE COMMUNITIES

The dynamic interface between civil society and the State

Preventing collective violence & reducing gun deaths

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Introduction Two case studies:

- GFSA & reducing gun deaths (reducing gun availability)

- Bokfontein & preventing collective violence (creating employment safety net) Key elements of successful advocacy Implications for violence prevention –

lessons learned

Overview

SAPS data 1994: 26,832 murders in South Africa, of which

11,134 were committed with firearms: 28.8 firearm homicides per 100,000.

Although the number of murders in South Africa declined, the percentage of people killed by firearms increased from 41 per cent of all murders in 1994 to 49.3 per cent in 2000

NIMSS data: 1999 & 2000 Firearms leading external cause of death – 26

to 28% of total number of cases

Gun violence in South Africa1994-2000

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Gun Violence in South Africa 1994 -2000

NIMSS 1999: firearms leading external cause of non-natural death (3,906 = 26%)

Release of NIMSS 2004data – 4 city study16 August 2006

Reducing gun deaths

Firearms Control Act (60 of 2000) No disaggregated firearm homicide data

from 2000 SAPS data:2009/2010 16, 834 murders NIMSS data: 2007 & 2008

Sharp force objects leading cause of non- natural death

Reducing gun deaths

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GFSA adopted a public policy advocacy approach to reducing gun deaths with aim of:

- influencing public policy- shaping public opinion- making a difference in people’s lives

How did this happen?

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Understanding the context Building alliances and grass roots

mobilisation e.g. Mapela & Gun Free Zones Research & dissemination Strategic partnership with government Developing solutions Lobbying Media advocacy

Key Elements of Successful Advocacy

3. Violence

Collective Violence

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History of removalExclusionPovertyNW Province

Preventing collective violenceBokfontein

Key resiliency factors contributing to VP- leadership style/champions- state sponsored public employment

programme to alleviate poverty (CWP) that includes community building = OW

- addressing trauma and psycho-social needs through Organisational Workshop (OW) process

BOKFONTEINPreventing collective violence

Preventing collective violenceBokfontein

Context responsive Social mobilisation – movement building Strategic partnership/engagement with

government & other role players Addressing collective trauma

Implications for violence prevention