MEDIA STATEMENT – COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMITTEE RENEWS CALL FOR A GUN-FREE GAUTENG AS GUN VIOLENCE CLAIMS MPRE YOUNG LIVES IN KATLEHONG

TO: ALL MEDIA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: 15 OCTOBER 2026

COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMITTEE RENEWS CALL FOR A GUN-FREE GAUTENG AS GUN VIOLENCE CLAIMS MPRE YOUNG LIVES IN KATLEHONG

The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has strongly condemned the mass shooting in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, in which four people lost their lives and seven people were allegedly shot during an incident on Tuesday night.

The Committee has called for urgent and decisive action to remove illegal guns from the streets of Gauteng and intensify efforts towards achieving a Gun-Free Gauteng.

According to reports, the victims were allegedly attacked by a gunman while returning from a memorial service of a local leader of a political party in the area. The suspect is reported to have handed himself over to the police following the incident.

The Committee has expressed deep concern over the continued loss of innocent lives through gun violence, which leaves families shattered, communities traumatised and young people deprived of opportunities to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.

The loss of four lives in a single shooting is a painful reminder of the devastating consequences of the unchecked proliferation and misuse of guns.

The victims were young people whose lives and futures have been cut short. They could have become professionals, community leaders, entrepreneurs and active contributors to building a better South Africa. Instead, their families and communities are left to mourn lives that should never have been lost in such circumstances.

The Committee maintains that guns have no place in the hands of individuals who use them to terrorise communities and settle disputes through violence.

The continued presence of guns on our streets poses a direct threat to the safety of our people and demands a coordinated, sustained and uncompromising response from law enforcement agencies and all relevant stakeholders.

While the Committee acknowledges the reported surrender of the suspect to the police, it calls for a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and ensure that those responsible are held accountable in accordance with the law. The investigation must also establish whether the gun used in the incident was legally owned and how it came into the suspect’s possession.

The Committee extends its heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and political organisation of the victims. It further wishes a speedy recovery to those who sustained injuries and urges community members to support the affected families during this difficult time.

This tragic incident reinforces the urgency of the Committee’s call for a Gun-Free Gauteng, where no family has to bury a loved one because of senseless gun violence.

The Committee believes that achieving this goal requires stronger enforcement against illegal firearms, effective firearm control, intelligence-driven policing and active cooperation between law enforcement agencies and communities.

Residents are urged to report the illegal possession and use of guns to the police and to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.

The Committee also calls on political parties, community leaders and residents to promote peace, tolerance and restraint as the country prepares for the local government elections scheduled for 4 November 2026. Political differences must never become a justification for intimidation, threats or violence. Every community member must be able to participate in political activities and exercise their democratic rights without fear for their safety.

The Committee urges all eligible voters to participate in the upcoming elections and use their constitutional right to vote to shape the future of their communities. It emphasises that democracy must be defended through peaceful participation, not intimidation and bloodshed.

The Committee reiterates that the safety of Gauteng’s residents cannot be compromised. Every life lost to gun violence is one too many, and the province cannot afford to normalise the killing of its people.

All sectors of society must work together to ensure that firearms are removed from the wrong hands and that Gauteng becomes a province where residents can live, work and participate in democratic processes without fear of being shot.

ISSUED BY GPL’S MEDIA SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY SAFETY, HONOURABLE BANDILE MASUKU

For interview requests with the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee please contact: Mr Thebe Khumalo on 072 266 1021 email: TKhumalo@gpl.gov.za

GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE