SAPS CONFISCATED MORE THAN 4000 ILLEGAL FIREARMS
Written by Neo Molefi on March 6, 2024
Written by: Tasha Siziba
Communities are at risk from illegal firearms, The South African Police Service (SAPS) aims to eradicate illegal firearms from streets, as they are the most common weapon in crimes like robberies and murders in Gauteng communities.
The findings by the police comes as Rand Water executive Teboho Joala, was assassinated in a blatant attack in front of hundreds of primary school students during a Rand Water-hosted fundraising event at Zakariyya Park Civic Hall, southern Johannesburg.
In February, after telling the pupils to assemble in the foyer and pull out their workbooks to study, the principle of Primrose Primary School in Germiston was shot by a 13-year-old.
The Gauteng Education Department has confirmed that the arrested pupil was reportedly part of a WhatsApp group discussing a shooting with other learners.
Nkosingiphile David Nxumalo (18), the second-year Bachelor of Commerce student at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) the last of six children born to a domestic worker mother from KwaZulu-Natal, was killed while sitting in a bus that was transporting students in Braamfontein last Thursday.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, says SAPS has seized over 4000 illegal firearms, with over 72,000 seized in the past three years, and over 72,000 destroyed by the police.
“Tips offs from our communities play a pivotal role in assisting the SAPS to trace these illegal firearms. We plead with our communities to report and share information on criminals who are in possession of illegal firearms so that we are able to save more lives and reduce crime levels.”
Mathe says, to legally own a firearm, one must undergo training and obtain a competency certificate from a registered firearms training institute.
“Once you have obtained the competency certificate, you can apply for the firearm license at your nearest police station. It’s important to note that you need a license for every firearm that you possess.”
“Firearm owners must also remember to keep his/her licensed firearm in the safe and be the only person with the key of the safe whenever the firearm is not in use or keep it in his possession on a holster attached to his or her body. A firearm owner must always be in control of his firearm.”
SAPS urges those with legal firearms to renew your firearm license 90 days before its expiry date, with a validity of two to ten years depending on the type of license.