“Survivors of gun violence share their powerful stories at the launch of the Removing the Trigger campaign, advocating for urgent gun control measures in South Africa. As South Africa marks the final days of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, the Removing the Trigger campaign was launched yesterday at the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Women & Children in Athlone. It brought together survivors of gun violence including the victims of those who were shot and killed and a panel of experts.
The aim of the campaign calls on government and civil society to treat gun control as a life-saving gender justice priority. Losing Life and Liberty,draws on two decades of research on homicide, firearm control, and intimate femicide, as well as new analysis exploring how guns function in everyday strategies of coercion and control in abusive relationships. It includes a descriptive snapshot of protection order applications and two case studies that illuminate lived experiences and reveal patterns of abuse often hidden in aggregate data.
One case study tells the story of Henrietta du Preez, a woman from the Western Cape and former SAPS officer, who endured multiple forms of abuse. “Every time he was on duty, he would tell me he wanted to kill me,” du Preez emotionally told the group.” The only thing that was stopping him, how to get rid of my body. “He said he would go to a mental institution for a few years, so that they would think that he is crazy.” The second recounted story was of Sasha Lee Shah, a 25-year-old accountant from KwaZulu-Natal who was fatally shot in October 2022 by her former partner – a security officer – who later took his own life.
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Her case was reconstructed through documents and interviews with her mother, Jessica Shah, who was part of the panel. The report was authored by Lisa Vetten, with significant contributions from Claudia Lopes, Claire Taylor, Adèle Kirsten, Kerryn Rehse, and Hollie Bradley, who provided critical input through edits, comments and guidance as part of the Removing the Trigger campaign.
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