The Award winning SABC3 show Special Assignment aims to uncover the truth about news events and the people involved in them.

Since its premiere in 1998 the show has gained the reputation of delivering unbiased, edgy journalism, breaking stories that have had an impact, not only on the immediate situation, but on South African society as a whole.

Using television as a form of social activism the show has won numerous awards for the impact it’s had. Special Assignment aims to continue bringing viewers award winning investigative documentaries.

This Week

The government has intensified its efforts to rid the country from what they estimate is an estimated two million illegal guns in circulation on the black market. But an investigation by Special Assignment has revealed that the prices for these illegal firearms have come down in recent years. Hand guns can be bought for one-hundred-and-fifty rand and AK-47’s for as little as one-thousand-rand on the black market. Analysts say this is a worrying trend, suggesting that lower prices could indicate more illegal guns flooding the market.

This is precisely why local security stores say they’ve started to market their bullet proof vests to prospective spectators coming to South Africa for the Soccer World Cup. Despite the controversy that erupted after international security companies did the same in recent months, local stores are adamant that there’s a viable market for these safety products because, they say, a Gun Free Soccer World Cup remains a mere pipedream.

Gun owners in South Africa are also up in arms over the police’s controversial gun amnesty drive, an effort that aims to clamp down on illegal guns. At least fifty thousand gun owners are refusing to hand in their weapons or to renew their licences despite a looming April-deadline for government’s gun amnesty period. The Black Gun Owners Association describes the police’s Fire Arms Registry process as a large-scale scam to disarm ordinary civilians. They’ve instructed their members to boycott the amnesty process.

But government has started tightening the screws on the amount of permits being issued to prospective gun owners. This will also have a severe impact on the amount of firearm licences issued to private security companies in South Africa, a drive that has raised security concerns. There are currently three security officers for every police officer in the country and the industry is said to be playing an integral role in safeguarding citizens and businesses alike.

For further information or interviews contact:

Cobus van Staden - 011 714 6446

Production co-ordinator: Joy Mokgadi - 011 714 6757 or email: truth@sabc.co.za