July 29th, 2003 - South African NGO’s, government representatives and communities from the Cape Flat area of South Africa’s Western Cape Province have met to discuss gun violence against children, following a recent wave of violence in the area.
In March, hundreds of South African police were deployed in the Cape Flats to halt gang violence that resulted in the deaths of at least six children, arresting suspected gang members, said the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
Gangs such as the Americans, Hard Livings, Mongrels, Born Frees and the Sexy Boys are active among the Cape’s Coloured (mostly mixed race) community.
Children and firearm deaths
A recent survey has shown that more than 1,000 children are shot killed in South Africa each year. The survey was conducted by senior researchers at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town. The number of children being treated for gunshot wounds at the hospital has increased from 10 to over 50 per year, said SABC.
In 2000, 699 children between the ages of 0 and 17 were killed by firearms in South Africa, almost half of all murders. About 30 people die each day in gun-related incidents across South Africa and people aged 15-24 are most at risk, said pressure group Gun Free South Africa.
Sources: South African Broadcasting Corporation, CNN, Gun Free South Africa
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Gun violence against children in the spotlight
