Easy access to guns, ammunition contributes to gang violence flare-ups in Cape Town - expert

CAPE TOWN - A criminologist said that flare-ups of gang-related shootings were becoming more prevalent because of the availability of guns and ammunition in the Western Cape.

Fourteen suspects were arrested for murder and attempted murder, and seven are behind bars for being caught with illegal guns in Mitchells Plain on Thursday night.

The arrests were made after five people were killed and seven others injured in gang-related shootings in the area on Thursday.

READ: CoCT offers R100k reward for information on recent Mitchells Plain shootings

Criminologist Guy Lamb said that the easy access gangs had to guns and ammunition was a massive concern. 

Lamb believes it’s one of the reasons why flare-ups of gang violence are becoming more prevalent in Cape Town.

"Part of the problem with much of this kind of escalation of gang shootings is availability of firearms and ammunition. But of course, that doesn't necessarily lead to the flare-ups, it just makes them more prevalent."  

Lamb said reasons for a flare-up of gang violence included fighting over drug turf.

"What typically happens in gang-related conflicts is when there is tension between different competing gangs over territories or if there is conflict within a particular gang around leadership issues or there are reprisal attacks."

Lamb said a cycle of shootings often happened when revenge attacks occured.