With the rampant issue of gun violence resurfacing in South Africa, revisiting of the gun control debate has become rife following the high-profile shooting incident involving celebrity musician Kiernan Jarryd Forbes popularly known as AKA.
It is instructive to assess the impact of stricter gun control applied in South Africa through the Firearms Control Act (FCA) of 2000.
The FCA was implemented in response to the prominent role of firearms in violent crime, identified by the National Crime Prevention Strategy adopted in 1996, active lobbying by an alliance of non-government organizations and opinion leaders, and a groundswell of popular support.
It provided a complete overhaul of the existing firearms control regime and was unambiguous in its intent to reduce the number of firearms in the country, particularly those in civilian hands.
It also included provisions for restrictions and prohibition on the ownership of particular types of firearms and background checks to establish an individual’s physical and mental capacity to use a firearm responsibly.
The stricter licensing conditions under the Firearms Control Act No. 60 of 2000 were part of a broader strategy to reduce the number of guns in circulation, and there was a firearm-access gradient between the FCA being passed in 2000 and its full implementation in 2004.
The South African Defense Force destroyed an estimated 270 000 weapons between January 1998 and May 2001, and the police destroyed 30, 000 in 2001.
The Ghana Report takes an insight into the top five firearm homicides in South Africa.
1. Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, famously known as ‘AKA’
AKA successfully released several studio albums, including Levels in 2014, Touch My Blood (2018), Bhovamania (2020), and the collaborative album with Anatii, titled Be Careful What You Wish For in 2017.
On July 28, 2010, he released I Want It All, which is the lead single from his debut studio album, Altar Ego.
The album also pre-released two singles-All I Know and Victory Lap. Victory Lap was successful as it topped South African local radio charts.
Alter Ego was then released on August 23, 2011. The album was certified gold by RiSA for its commercial success.
The album won several accolades, including the 2011 Metro FM Awards for Best Hip Hop Album. AKA won Best Male Artist of the Year at the 2012 South African Music Awards.
In April 2018, he was featured as a special guest on WWE Live events, which were held in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
In 2020, at the 26th South African Music Awards, he won the music video of the year with Jika featuring YangaChief.
In 2021, AKA won the MTV Africa Music Awards 2021 for Best Lockdown Performance.
2. Lucky Philip Dube
Lucky Philip Dube was a South African reggae musician and Rastafarian considered to be one of the most important musicians in the history of African music and one of the greatest reggae musicians of all time.
He had a career that spanned three decades. He was born on August 3, 1964, in Ermelo, South Africa, and began his musical career in the 1980s.
Dube’s music was known for its political content and he often used his lyrics to address issues of social justice, including apartheid, poverty, and inequality. He was a powerful voice for change and used his music to inspire and mobilize people to take action against the injustices they faced.
In October 18, 2007, Lucky Dube was killed by hijackers in Rosettenville, a suburb in southern Johannesburg, shortly after dropping two of his seven children off at their uncle’s house.
Dube was driving his Chrysler 300C, which the assailants were after.
Police reports suggest the hijackers did not recognise him and believed that he was a Nigerian. Five men were arrested in connection with the murder; three were tried and found guilty on March 31, 2009. Two of the men attempted to escape and were caught.The men were sentenced to life in prison.
3. Taliep Petersen
Taliep Petersen was a South African singer, composer and director of a number of popular musicals.
He was born in April 15, 1950, District Six, South Africa.
He worked most notably with David Kramer, with whom he won an Olivier Award.
Petersen, who was a practising Muslim, was twice married and fathered six children.
Petersen’s contributions to the South African music scene cannot be overstated.
He was a prolific composer, and his works included numerous albums and stage productions, including the hit musical “Kat and the Kings.” He was also a mentor to many young musicians, and was widely respected in the music industry.
He was shot dead at his home on December 16, 2006.
4.Deon van der Walt
Deon van der Walt was a South African tenor.
Born on July 28, 1958, Cape Town, South Africa.
He was counted among the leading lyric tenors of his day and performed at all the world’s major opera houses, including
- La Scala in Milan
- the Hamburg State Opera
- the Vienna State Opera
- the Bavarian State Opera in Munich
- the Zurich Opera, Switzerland
- the Liceu in Barcelona
- the Metropolitan Opera in New York
He died on November 29, 2005 at his family’s vineyard in South Africa, after he was reportedly shot by his father after a row at the family’s Veenwouden wine estate.
5. Tebogo Madingoane
Tebogo Madingoane was a South African recording artist.
Madingoane was born on July 17, 1972.
He rose to fame as a member of the South African music group, Mafikizolo, with Nhlanhla Nciza and Theo Kgosinkwe.
Madingoane was gunned down in road rage attack on February 14, 2004 in front of his girlfriend and two friends.