Guy Lamb
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Articles by Guy Lamb
Guy Lamb | More than a fence: The N2 Edge Project’s untapped potential for community safety
0:00 Subscribers can listen to this article The City of Cape Town proposed the N2 wall in mid-December 2025, shortly after 64-year-old Karin van Aardt (pictured) was fatally stabbed during a smash-and-grab attack near Jakes Gerwel Drive. Esti Trumpelmann-du Plessis/Facebook Read this for free Be among those who shape the future with knowledge. Uncover exclusive stories that captivate your mind and heart with our FREE 14-day subscription trial.
Opinion | Sending in the army
Soldiers from the South African National Defence Force are going to be deployed alongside members of the South African Police Service to combat gangs and armed groups associated with illegal mining. The announcement by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation address in mid‑February received the support of opposition political parties, including the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters.
Sending in the army to fight crime (again)
Soldiers from the South African National Defence Force are going to be deployed alongside members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to combat gangs and armed groups associated with illegal mining. The announcement by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation address in mid-February 2026 received the support of opposition political parties, including the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters.
South Africa is sending in the army to fight crime (again). Does it ever work?
By Guy Lamb, Criminologist / Senior Lecturer, Stellenbosch University Soldiers from the South African National Defence Force are going to be deployed alongside members of the South African Police Service to combat gangs and armed groups associated with illegal mining.
South Africa is sending in the army to fight crime (again). Does it ever work?
Soldiers from the South African National Defence Force are going to be deployed alongside members of the South African Police Service to combat gangs and armed groups associated with illegal mining. The announcement by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation address in mid-February 2026 received the support of opposition political parties, including the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters.
Owning a gun in South Africa offers some safety, but risks run high for users and society – expert - DefenceWeb
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, eclipsed only by Honduras and a handful of Caribbean island states. Furthermore, South African police crime data shows that South Africans experience above average levels of robbery, assault and rape. The 2022/23 Victims of Crime survey, which surveyed a representative sample of 42,746 South Africans, showed that the population had been feeling acutely unsafe. Only 37% indicated that they felt safe at night in their communities.
Violent crime in South Africa happens mostly in a few hotspots: police resources should focus there - criminologist
By Guy Lamb, Criminologist / Senior Lecturer, Stellenbosch University Crime researchers use murder (or homicide) rate per 100,000 as a crude measure of the general level of violent interpersonal crime globally. According to the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, South Africa’s murder rate of 45 per 100,000 (2023/24) is the second highest for countries that publish crime data.
Violent crime in South Africa happens mostly in a few hotspots: police resources should focus there - criminologist
Crime researchers use murder (or homicide) rate per 100,000 as a crude measure of the general level of violent interpersonal crime globally. According to the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime, South Africa’s murder rate of 45 per 100,000 (2023/24) is the second highest for countries that publish crime data. The South African Police Service crime data shows that levels of attempted murder, armed robbery and robberies at homes have soared over the past 10 years.
South African criminologist to serve on Interpol expert council
A Stellenbosch University (SU) criminologist, Dr Guy Lamb, will form part of a high-level expert council to help Interpol’s future vision meet the law enforcement needs of its member countries. Lamb, from the Department of Political Science at SU, was invited to serve on Interpol’s Future Council. The decision to form such a council was taken at Interpol’s General Assembly in Vienna, Austria, last year.
Stellenbosch criminologist to serve on new...
Dr Guy Lamb of the Department of Political Science at Stellenbosch University has accepted an invitation to serve on the Future Council of the International Criminal Police Organisation, commonly known as INTERPOL.
Owning a gun in South Africa offers some safety, but risks run high for users and society - expert
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, eclipsed only by Honduras and a handful of Caribbean island states. Furthermore, South African police crime data shows that South Africans experience above average levels of robbery, assault and rape. The 2022/23 Victims of Crime survey, which surveyed a representative sample of 42,746 South Africans, showed that the population had been feeling acutely unsafe. Only 37% indicated that they felt safe at night in their communities.
Owning a gun in South Africa offers some safety, but risks run high for users and society - expert
© 2024 Tolerance.ca ® Inc. All reproduction rights reserved. All information reproduced on the Web pages of www.tolerance.ca (including articles, images, photographs, and logos) is protected by intellectual property rights owned by Tolerance.ca ® Inc. or, in certain cases, by its author. Any reproduction of the information for use other than personal use is prohibited.
South Africa’s police are losing the war on crime - here’s how they need to rethink their approach
South Africa’s crime statistics for the third quarter of 2023 show that people continue to face a serious problem of violent crime, especially murder and attempted murder. The country’s per capita murder rate for 2022/23 was the highest in 20 years at 45 per 100,000 (a 50% increase compared to 2012/13). In response to this crisis, the South African Police Service has reconfigured its policing strategies and plans. Yet, these approaches offer very little innovation.
Did South Africa sell arms to Russia?
On 11 May 2023 the US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, claimed that South Africa had secretly exported arms to Russia in December 2022. The announcement rapidly fed into a popular narrative that South Africa was increasingly siding with Russia in relation to Moscow’s aggressive war in Ukraine. Brigety’s statements made both South African and international news headlines, including the Wall Street Journal, CNN and the Financial Times.
OPINION | Did South Africa sell arms to Russia? Only unlikely scenarios could have made it possible
In addition, such decisions must not contribute to: internal repression; the systematic violation or suppression of human rights and fundamental freedoms terrorism and crime; the escalation of regional military conflicts; or the endangering of peace All arms export applications by such exporters are carefully considered by a scrutiny committee and, thereafter, by theNational Conventional Arms Control Committee. This is made up of a broad spectrum of cabinet ministers.
Did South Africa sell arms to Russia? Only a series of unlikely scenarios could have made it possible
By Guy Lamb, Criminologist / Senior Lecturer, Stellenbosch University On 11 May 2023 the US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, claimed that South Africa had secretly exported arms to Russia in December 2022. The announcement rapidly fed into a popular narrative that South Africa was increasingly siding with Russia in relation… Read complete article
Did South Africa sell arms to Russia? Only a series of unlikely scenarios could have made it possible
On 11 May 2023 the US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, claimed that South Africa had secretly exported arms to Russia in December 2022. The announcement rapidly fed into a popular narrative that South Africa was increasingly siding with Russia in relation to Moscow’s aggressive war in Ukraine. Brigety’s statements made both South African and international news headlines, including the Wall Street Journal, CNN and the Financial Times.
Africa: Revisiting Human Security in Africa in the Post-Covid-19 Era
Citizens' experiences and perceptions spotlight insecurity in six countries. Although Africa has recorded fewer than 2% of COVID-19 cases worldwide (World Health Organization, 2023), the pandemic has had severe socioeconomic and governance effects on the continent, affecting individuals, organisations, and governments (Josephson, Kilic, & Michler, 2021; Ozili, 2022).
PP86: Revisiting human security in Africa in the post-COVID-19 era
Although Africa has recorded fewer than 2% of COVID-19 cases worldwide (World Health Organization, 2023), the pandemic has had severe socioeconomic and governance effects on the continent, affecting individuals, organisations, and governments (Josephson, Kilic, & Michler, 2021; Ozili, 2022).
Robberies surge as criminals take advantage of South Africa’s power outages
By Guy Lamb Stellenbosch University, South Africa: The acute energy crisis in South Africa has adversely affected all aspects of the society. Regular and lengthy power outages – which started are also contributing to an escalation in the levels of criminal activity, especially street crime. The most recent quarterly crime statistics – have undermined an ailing economy and food security, as well as health and outcomes.
Robberies surge as criminals take advantage of South Africa's power outages
© 2023 Tolerance.ca ® Inc. All reproduction rights reserved. All information reproduced on the Web pages of www.tolerance.ca (including articles, images, photographs, and logos) is protected by intellectual property rights owned by Tolerance.ca ® Inc. or, in certain cases, by its author. Any reproduction of the information for use other than personal use is prohibited.
Robberies surge as criminals take advantage of South Africa's power outages
The acute energy crisis in South Africa has adversely affected all aspects of the society. Regular and lengthy power outages – which started are also contributing to an escalation in the levels of criminal activity, especially street crime. The most recent quarterly crime statistics – have undermined an ailing economy and food security, as well as health and outcomes.
GUN CRIME OP-ED: Mass killings are often over turf and extortion — how South Africa can end cycles of violence
GUN CRIME OP-ED Criminal gangs, taxi groups, political factions, zama zamas and vigilantes make up the deadly mix of antagonism behind the ongoing mass shootings that plague South Africa. In just two days in early July, 25 people were shot dead in four separate incidents at taverns across South Africa. In one of the shootings, in Soweto, 16 people lost their lives.
Mass shootings in SA are often over group turf: how to stop the cycle of reprisals
VOICES In just two days in early July, 25 people were shot dead in four separate incidents at taverns across South Africa. In one of these shootings, in Soweto, 16 people lost their lives. The killings made international headlines and were shocking even in South Africa, a society with one of the highest murder rates in the world. There has been intense speculation about the motives behind the killings in the absence of reliable evidence that explains why the multiple murders took place.
South Africans Are Feeling More Insecure - Do Ramaphosa's Plans Add Up?
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa's 2022 state of the nation address underscored the problematic role that government agencies and others had played in state capture and the 2021 civil unrest. The unrest and looting that followed the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma for contempt of court sparked widespread violence and destruction of property, and resulted in the deaths of more than 350 people.
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2022 state of the nation address underscored the problematic role that government agencies and others had played in state capture and the 2021 civil unrest. The unrest and looting that followed the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma for contempt of court sparked widespread violence and destruction of property, and resulted in the deaths of more than 350 people.
Gun control in South Africa: tightening the law, and more
South African police prepare guns handed in during one of several amnesties for destruction Statistics produced by the police and mortuary surveillance systems in South Africa have consistently shown that firearms are the most commonly used weapons to commit murder and other violent crimes, such as carjacking and house robberies.
Gun control in South Africa: tightening the law, and more
Statistics produced by the police and mortuary surveillance systems in South Africa have consistently shown that firearms are the most commonly used weapons to commit murder and other violent crimes, such as carjacking and house robberies. With this in mind, the Civilian Secretariat for Police Services which serves as the technical advisory agency to the Minister of Police, wants to have the Firearms Control Act amended to introduce more stringent firearm licensing measures.
Why have South Africans been on a looting rampage? Research offers insights
The looting of businesses, shopping centres and warehouses in South Africa over the past week, particularly in the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, has taken place at an unprecedented scale. It has affected both poor and middle-class areas. Private as well as government property has been damaged and destroyed. People have been injured and lives have been lost. A variety of narratives have emerged in an effort to explain the looting frenzy.
MAVERICK CITIZEN OP-ED: Licensed to kill: Does owning a firearm in South Africa make you more or less safe? Well, it depends
Police are seeking to remove the provision in the act that allows people 21 years or older to apply for firearm licences for purposes of self-defence. (Photo: News24 / Wikipedia) A proposed amendment to the Firearms Control Act has some gun owners hot under the collar. But a balanced conversation about the benefits and hazards of gun ownership for all South Africans is required in the absence of conclusive and authoritative studies on whether guns ensure their owners’ safety.
ANALYSIS | Crime levels, alcohol and Covid-19 lockdowns
Police Minister Bheki Cele briefs the media on the annual crime statistics. GCIS In order to dertermine if alochol plays a role in crime spikes, it needs to be determined where violent crime is concentrated, as well as consider other possible factors that may have contributed to such variations in crime in these precincts, writes Guy Lamb.
ANALYSIS | Lockdown policing is not lekker
Mounted police during beach closures on December 16, 2020 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images via Getty Images) Given government’s slow response to rolling out a Covid vaccine response, it appears that 2021 will be similar to 2020, with police officials having to continue to enforce various forms of lockdown regulations in response to successive waves of heightened Covid-19 infections, writes Guy Lamb.
OPINION | Kinnear killing: Firearms, police corruption and organised crime
Charl Kinnear was remembered as a dedicated and hardworking detective. Bertram Malgas/News24 Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear's murder has also re-emphasised the problem of SAPS corruption, especially in relation to firearms. writes Guy Lamb. The recent assassination of Lieutenant Colonel Charl Kinnear has exposed a number of vulnerabilities within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
South Africa: Getting Away With Murder
Corrupt police personnel in South Africa with criminal connections have contributed to a proliferation of illegal firearms Firearms are the most common weapon used to commit murder in South Africa. According to the official South African Police Service (SAPS) data, between 1 April, 2015 and 31 March, 2019, some 25,070 people (predominantly men) were murdered with a firearm compared to 19,355 individuals who were stabbed to death with knives over the same period.
SA needs to turn the tide against wave of violent crime
In February last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that his government would pursue five fundamental goals over the next decade. One of these was bold, namely that violent crime would be halved, if not eliminated. This, according to Ramaphosa, would be achieved through improved policing and addressing gender-based violence. Three months later the SA Police Service released its crime statistics for 2018/19. They confirmed why it was imperative the government prioritised crime reduction.
How to turn the tide against South Africa's crime wave
In February last year South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that his government would pursue five fundamental goals over the next decade. One of these was particularly bold, namely that violent crime would be halved, if not eliminated. This, according to Ramaphosa, would be achieved through improved policing, especially at the local level, and through addressing gender-based violence. His emphasis on the issues was well placed.
South Africa: How to Turn the Tide Against South Africa's Crime Wave
In February last year South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that his government would pursue five fundamental goals over the next decade. One of these was particularly bold, namely that violent crime would be halved, if not eliminated. This, according to Ramaphosa, would be achieved through improved policing, especially at the local level, and through addressing gender-based violence. His emphasis on the issues was well placed.
How to turn the tide against South Africa's crime wave
In February last year South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that his government would pursue five fundamental goals over the next decade. One of these was particularly bold, namely that violent crime would be halved, if not eliminated. This, according to Ramaphosa, would be achieved through improved policing, especially at the local level, and through addressing gender-based violence. His emphasis on the issues was well placed.
South Africa: Boys to Violent Men - What We Know, and What We Can Do
We don't need more research, we need action. Some of what must be done is already outlined in South African laws and policies. The Children's Act, for instance, makes violence prevention interventions mandatory. Earlier this week, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga said in Parliament we need to undertake more research into why some boys become violent men who abuse women, and what can be done to stop it happening.
OP-ED: Boys to violent men: What we know, and what we can do
A young boy hangs from a homemade swing in a tree near his family mud hut in the Valley of a Thousand Hills near Durban, South Africa, 03 January 2018. (PHOTO: EPA-EFE/KIM LUDBROOK) We don’t need more research, we need action. Some of what must be done is already outlined in South African laws and policies. The Children’s Act, for instance, makes violence prevention interventions mandatory.
Crime may torpedo Cyril's economic revival drive
President Cyril Ramaphosa used his State of the Nation Address (Sona) to outline his relatively new government's action plan. Ramaphosa mainly focused on economic growth, investment and job creation. He also announced substantial investments in education, health and housing. But there was very limited focus on crime. The preventive strategies he outlined were somewhat stale. Most, especially those related to policing and gender-based violence, have been tried before.
Ramaphosa’s plans aren’t enough to adequately tackle violent crime
Ramaphosa’s robust plans for the economy have the potential for reducing violent crime in the future. But, importantly, existing levels of violent crime can severely undermine his government’s efforts to stimulate growth, increase investment and reduce poverty. There’s an urgent need for government to honesty reflect on its current approaches to crime prevention; and to adopt strategies that are based on evidence.
Ramaphosa’s plans aren’t enough to adequately tackle violent crime
Ramaphosa’s robust plans for the economy have the potential for reducing violent crime in the future. But, importantly, existing levels of violent crime can severely undermine his government’s efforts to stimulate growth, increase investment and reduce poverty. There’s an urgent need for government to honesty reflect on its current approaches to crime prevention; and to adopt strategies that are based on evidence.
South Africa: Ramaphosa's Plans Aren't Enough to Adequately Tackle Violent Crime
analysis By Guy Lamb South African President Cyril Ramaphosa used his State of the Nation Address on February 7 to outline his relatively new government's actions and plans. Ramaphosa focused particularly on economic growth, investment and job creation. He also announced substantial investments in education, health and housing. But there was very limited focus on crime. Prevention strategies he outlined were somewhat stale.
Ramaphosa’s plans aren’t enough to tackle violent crime in SA
South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo: Jack Taylor/Getty Images. Form here By: Guy Lamb, University of Cape Town South African President Cyril Ramaphosa used his State of the Nation Address on February 7 to outline his relatively new government’s actions and plans. Ramaphosa focused particularly on economic growth, investment and job creation. He also announced substantial investments in education, health and housing. But there was very limited focus on crime.
Ramaphosa's plans aren't enough to adequately tackle violent crime in South Africa
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa used his State of the Nation Address on February 7 to outline his relatively new government’s actions and plans. Ramaphosa focused particularly on economic growth, investment and job creation. He also announced substantial investments in education, health and housing. But there was very limited focus on crime. Prevention strategies he outlined were somewhat stale. Most, especially those related to policing and gender-based violence, have been tried before.
Africa: Why the Global Survey On Safety Is Deeply Flawed
analysis By Guy LambThere has been a rise in global statistical initiatives that measure and rank countries in terms of various aspects of the human condition. Some of the more prominent examples include the Human Development Index, the World Governance Indicators, the Global Peace Index and the Corruption Perceptions Index. Each ranks countries according to a series of indicators, or a composite indicator, and tracks their progress or decline over time.
Why the global survey on safety is deeply flawed
Each ranks countries according to a series of indicators, or a composite indicator, and tracks their progress or decline over time. One of the most recent global indicator projects is the Gallup Law and Order Index. It ranks 142 countries based on a perception survey relating to personal safety and policing, from a representative sample of 1000 people in each country. Knowing how secure, or insecure people feel is important because insecurity affects economic growth and undermines development.
Is South Africa really less safe than DRC and Libya? The problem with citizen surveys
There has been a rise in global statistical initiatives that measure and rank countries in terms of various aspects of the human condition.
Why the global survey on safety is deeply flawed
There has been a rise in global statistical initiatives that measure and rank countries in terms of various aspects of the human condition. Some of the more prominent examples include the Human Development Index, the World Governance Indicators, the Global Peace Index and the Corruption Perceptions Index. Each ranks countries according to a series of indicators, or a composite indicator, and tracks their progress or decline over time.
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