By Kotie Geldenhuys
Photos courtesy of Freepik, Pexels and Pixabay
Across borders, firearms trafficking is the lifeblood of transnational crime. It fans the flames of violence, deepens conflicts and arms terrorists and criminal groups with deadly power. Behind every smuggled weapon lies a chain of chaos, including the fuelling of kidnapping, drug routes, human trafficking and violent robberies. When guns travel, peace shatters and instability becomes the norm.
South Africa remains one of the most violent countries in the world, with a murder rate that ranks among the highest globally. This persistent violence is deeply rooted in the nation’s historical legacy of colonialism and apartheid, which entrenched stark inequalities, high levels of poverty and widespread unemployment, conditions that continue to drive structural and interpersonal violence to this day. According to Lamb and Warton (2016), contemporary violence in South Africa is exacerbated by social norms that tolerate or even endorse violent behaviour as a means of conflict resolution. This is further fuelled by substance abuse and the widespread availability of firearms, which have become the weapon of choice in a significant portion of violent crimes.
[This is only an extract of an article published in Servamus: July 2025. This article is available for purchase.]