VEREENIGING. – The scourge of illegal firearms in the country is something to be taken very seriously by the entire South African (SA) fraternity.
According to the SAPS National Commissioner, General Riah Phiyega, there are over 6 million illegal firearms circulating worldwide.
For the second time this year, members of the media, community and officials including members of the SAPS witnessed the destruction of 14 382 firearms at ArcelorMittal.
In her key note address, deputy minister of police Makhotso Sotyu said, “Firearms are at the center of all instances involving serious violent crime in South Africa. Gangsterism, drug trafficking, aggravated robbery, domestic violence, rape and police killings are mostly carried out by the use of firearms.”
General Riah Phiyega added, “Police must look after their firearms. We must continue to be ruthless in dealing with crime. As we celebrate International Gun Destruction Day we ensure that there are no illegal firearms on our streets.”
Phiyega adds that there is not a day that goes by without someone using an illegal firearm to commit a crime. While many of the guns destroyed on the day were handguns, there was also a significant amount of self-made guns destroyed on the day.
