The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has expressed deep alarm over the relentless surge in gun violence, warning that communities across the province are increasingly turning into “everyday crime scenes.”
This comes after a mass shooting in Saulsville, Pretoria, where 11 people were killed and 14 others injured during the early hours of Saturday morning at an illegal tavern. Among the deceased were three minors and several women, sparking widespread grief and outrage.
The Committee conveyed heartfelt condolences to the affected families and extended wishes of recovery to those wounded in the attack, describing the incident as “a senseless act of brutality.”
Illegal Firearms Fueling Deadly Attacks
According to the Committee, the Saulsville tragedy underscores a growing and disturbing reality: illegal firearms continue to circulate freely within Gauteng communities, enabling devastating attacks that destroy families and threaten the province’s safety.
The Committee reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying advocacy efforts toward achieving a Gun-Free Gauteng, warning that the unchecked flow of illicit firearms poses a serious threat to public safety.
Assassination of Witness D Raises Further Alarms
Adding to the crisis, the Committee expressed shock at the assassination of Witness D, a key figure in the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. Reports indicate that an AK-47 automatic rifle was used in the attack — yet another example of high-calibre weapons being used with apparent impunity.
Witness D was shot and killed outside his home, a killing that the Committee says highlights the urgent need to remove powerful illegal firearms from circulation.
Law Enforcement Urged to Act Swiftly
The Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has called on all law enforcement agencies in Gauteng to leave no stone unturned in tracking down the perpetrators behind both the Saulsville mass shooting and the assassination of Witness D.
The Committee also urged residents to cooperate fully with police investigators, stressing that community support is vital to securing the swift arrest of the three suspects linked to the Saulsville shooting.
A Call for Stronger Partnerships
The Committee warns that the proliferation of illegal firearms represents a grave threat to everyone living in Gauteng. It emphasised that only strengthened partnerships between communities, law enforcement, and government can dismantle the criminal networks responsible for supplying and deploying these deadly weapons.
