Article: "SAPS has destroyed over 260 000 firearms since 2019"

[JhbBoy]

https://www.defenceweb.co.za/securit...ms-since-2019/

On Friday 12 July, the South African Police Service announced the destruction of 14 595 firearms and firearm parts, emphasizing that the service “remains relentless in its efforts to detect and permanently remove illegal firearms and ammunition in circulation.”

A total of 11 421 handguns, 1 708rifles, 1 205 shotguns, and 28 ‘combination firearms’ were melted down during a destruction process at Vanderbijlpark after being seized by the police or handed in.

Of these firearms, the largest portion, 4 676, were seized in Gauteng. The Western Cape and Eastern Cape followed with 3 117 and 1 834 respectively. February saw a previous batch of 18 077 destroyed. This latest batch of destroyed firearms brings the total of firearms destroyed since 2019 to 263 545.

This includes firearms that were voluntarily surrendered during the amnesty period.

[MSW2]

But the murder rate has gone up...

[oafpatroll]

But the murder rate has gone up...

I suspect that the number moved into the hands of criminals courtesy of the new proprietors of Col Prinsloo's operation has too.

[Vaal]

I wonder where these guns were destroyed? The arc furnace in Vereeniging is mothballed and the arc furnace at Mittal Vanderbijlpark has been demolished. Most of the firearms melted at Mittal Vereeniging were mostly old guns which looked mostly surrendered hunting rifles and single barrel shotguns.

The only arc furnace I know of currently in use in Vanderbijlpark is at Capegate.

[oafpatroll]

I wonder where these guns were destroyed? The arc furnace in Vereeniging is mothballed and the arc furnace at Mittal Vanderbijlpark has been demolished. Most of the firearms melted at Mittal Vereeniging were mostly old guns which looked mostly surrendered hunting rifles and single barrel shotguns.

The only arc furnace I know of currently in use in Vanderbijlpark is at Capegate.

I trust SAPS . . . a little . . . a very little.

[Heath Robinson]

Would be interesting to k ow what percentage was actually seized and not voluntarily handed in.

I'm willing to bet it's way less than 10%

[Johann du Toit]

"SAPS has sold over 260 000 firearms to criminals since 2019".

Fixed the headline.

[wave.jaco]

As a matter of interest, since they usually provide one a chance to motivate why a certain listed firearm must not be destroyed, does this apply to special cases where only a previous owner can make such a motivation, or can anybody make a motivation on a particular firearm and somehow prevent it from being destroyed and license it to their name?

I know it sounds somewhat silly and highly unlikely to work like that, but you won't know if you don't know and don't ask...