JOHANNESBURG -The highest cause of murders, according to the October to December 2025 police crime statistics, is misunderstandings, arguments, road rage, and provocation.
According to the statistics, 1,158 people were murdered during this period. Meanwhile, 33 people were murdered while intervening and attempting to defuse the incidents.
On Sunday, a man was killed in Emmarentia, while his wife was injured during a road rage altercation. The altercation resulted from a bumper-basher incident.
The wife had allegedly fetched a gun when the altercation had gotten heated. A 58-year-old man shot at the man and woman, allegedly in self-defense.
The husband suffered a fatal gunshot wound, and the wife was injured and is recovering in hospital.
The man was arrested and subsequently released. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Tuesday that it would not be prosecuting him as yet, pending further investigation.
The police are investigating a case of murder and attempted murder.
Road accident etiquette.
Traffic Advisory expert, Tshepo Machaea, said motorists should not argue when accidents happen.
According to Machaea, many South Africans are not capable of handling conflict and, in many instances, will resort to weapons in their possession.
"We are all very aggressive on the road," he says.
The aim of any road user should be to make it home alive, regardless of the circumstances around them on the road.
"The law demands that you assess damages to your vehicle and that of the other person immediately after the accident," says Machaea.
He said it is important to keep a cool head and leave everything to the police and insurance companies.
"The information must then be handed over to the authorities."
One has to also observe the situation, noting if there are children present or anyone who has been injured.
Should the environment become unsafe, he advises you leave the place immediately and report the matter to the police.
Gun ownership in SA
It is not easy to get a gun in South Africa. According to Specialist Investigator, Mike Bolhuis, there are strict rules, regulations and protocols in place that need to be adhere to.
"Driving with a gun in your vehicle is not a problem, as long as it is concealed and is safe," he says.
Unless one is an investigator or police officer working in a dangerous environment, it is not necessary to have it 'one up'. A gun being 'one-up' means it is cocked, loaded and ready to shoot.
Bolhuis says a gun in a vehicle must be in a holster, invisible and unreachable to anyone else who might try take advantage and grab it.
When travelling, the gun must be in a car safe and placed in a safe once you reach your destination.
READ: Suspect in Emmarentia road rage incident to appear in court
"This is the golden rule," he says.
"A gun can only be used when it is absolutely necessary" he says.
Bolhuis stresses that one needs to be trained well when owning a gun as accidents can happen and innocent people can be hurt or killed in the process.
"The training is not enough," he says.
After the initial training, writing the tests and receiving the gun, may put them in safes and do not train consistently after that, says Bolhuis. In the same way driving a car or exercise is something people do constantly, so is getting training for the guns.
"You must visualise yourself in all situations and how you would handle them," he says.
When it comes to road rage, Bolhuis warns that it is better to take out your anger in the and not not outside of the car.
"Get your exercises there, when you leave your home, always take into consideration that safety first," he says. One must always consider the consequences of your actions before you do anything when angry.