More than 35, 000 firearms destroyed by SAPS
Only 2019/2020 amnesty firearms that have been ABIS tested, not linked to a pending firearm application or criminal investigation, were included for destruction.
The divisional commissioner of operational response services, Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on behalf of the national commissioner of South African Police Service (SAPS), Gen Khehla John Sitole, oversaw the destruction of 35, 069 firearms, which were either confiscated by the police, voluntary surrendered or forfeited to the state.
The destruction took place at Cape Gate Wire and Steel Manufactures in Vanderbijlpark.
The proliferation of illegal firearms has therefore been dealt a decisive blow with co-operation from the public as a total of 9, 918 of the destroyed firearms were voluntarily surrendered during the 2019/2020 Firearm Amnesty period.
ALSO READ: Police urge residents to surrender firearms
Only 2019/2020 amnesty firearms that have been ABIS tested, not linked to a pending firearm application or criminal investigation, were included for destruction.
The rest of the firearms were confiscated by the police during intelligence-driven operations, routine stop and searches as well as tip-offs received from community members, who are committed to ridding their environment of illegal firearms.
The SAPS is mandated by the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No 60 of 2000) where in section 136 (1) provides that: ‘The registrar may in respect of any firearm or ammunition seized by, surrendered to or forfeited to the state, issue a notice in the Gazette stating that it is the intention of the state to destroy that firearm or ammunition.’ The registrar of firearms is the serving national commissioner of the South African Police Service.
A notice was published in the Government Gazette on December 31, 2020. As per section 136(2) of the above mentioned act, interested parties, who had a valid claim to the relevant firearms or ammunition, were invited to make representations within 21 days after the publication of the notice in the gazette to the registrar as to why the identified firearms or ammunition should not be destroyed.
However, no representation was received by the end of the mandatory 21 days.
“Daily, SAPS officers on patrol are bravely stopping and searching suspicious vehicles looking for contraband and illegal firearms. Therefore, reducing the number of illegal firearms in circulation continue to be one of the police’s priority. Melting these firearms therefore ensures that these firearms will never find their way back in circulation,” said Col Brenda Muridili of the SAPS.
Members of the public, who have to handle firearms of their deceased relatives, have to do so in line with the prescripts of the law.
The act provides that in case of death, the family or executor must dispose of the firearm by deactivating it through a gunsmith, sell it to an accredited firearm dealer or individual or voluntarily surrender it to SAPS for destruction.
“We are appealing to the public to report any knowledge of individuals in possession of unlicensed firearms to the SAPS Crime Stop number on 08600-10111 or to send a tip-off on MySAPS app. Callers may remain anonymous and all information received will be treated with confidentiality. The SAPS would like to thank members of the public and institutions alike, who participated in the current #FirearmAmnesty that ends on Sunday, January 31. A total of 40, 729 firearms and 199, 573 rounds of ammunition have been surrendered so far,” she added.
ALSO READ: Police guarantee anonymity as they clamp down on illegal activity
Individuals and institutions in possession of illegal, obsolete and redundant firearms or parts thereof are encouraged to use the remaining three days to surrender them without fear of prosecution for illegal possession.
All firearm enquiries may be forwarded to the Central Firearm Call Centre on 012 353-6111 or emailed to [email protected].
Visit our sister sites for more news in the respective areas:
