Gun-related femicide in SA: A call to action

South Africa is in the grip of a femicide crisis, with firearms playing a leading role in the murder of women. This briefing exposes a stark pattern: when gun laws are strictly enforced, fewer women are killed; when enforcement slips and gun ownership rises, so do femicide rates. With a record number of women being shot and over 160,000 new civilian firearms in circulation, the urgency is clear.

President Ramaphosa’s 2025 State of the Nation Address acknowledged the crisis, but words must now become action. This briefing outlines six key recommendations to strengthen gun control, close legal loopholes, and prevent firearms from falling into the hands of those who pose a threat to women’s safety.

Femicide is preventable.