DESTROYED IN SECONDS Where did your gun go to?

SA – The divisional commissioner of operational response services lieutenant general Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, on behalf of the National Commissioner of South African Police Service (SAPS) general khehla John Sitole, oversaw the destruction of 35,069 firearms at Cape Gate Wire and Steel Manufactures in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng on Friday 28 January.

Police spokesperson colonel Brenda Muridili confirmed that these firearms were either confiscated by the police, voluntary surrendered to or forfeited to the State. The proliferation of illegal firearms has therefore been dealt a decisive blow with cooperation from the public as a total of 9,918 of the destroyed firearms were voluntarily surrendered during the 2019/2020 firearm amnesty period from 1 December 2019 to 31 May 2020.

Police are appealing to the public to report any knowledge of individuals in possession of unlicensed firearms to the SAPS Crime Stop number 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 firearm amnesty that ended on Sunday 31 January 2021. A total of 40,729 firearms and 199,573 rounds of ammunition have been surrendered so far. All firearm enquiries may be forwarded to the Central Firearm Call Centre No: 012 353 6111 or emailed to cfrenquiries@saps.gov.za.