Over 11,800 firearms destroyed by the South African Police Service as part of a nationwide initiative to combat violent crime and prevent illegal weapons from re-entering circulation.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has destroyed 11,859 firearms and firearm parts as part of a nationwide effort to curb violent crime and prevent illegal weapons from returning to circulation.
The destruction, led by Deputy Minister of Police Dr Polly Boshielo on Wednesday, coincided with International Firearm Destruction Day, a United Nations campaign observed annually on 9 July.
According to SAPS, the destroyed weapons included 9,596 handguns, 1,102 rifles, 798 shotguns, 33 combination firearms and 330 firearm parts. The latest destruction brings the total number of firearms destroyed by the police over the past seven years to 317,811.
Deputy Minister Boshielo was joined by senior SAPS officials, including Divisional Commissioner for Visible Policing and Operations Lieutenant General Maropeng Mamotheti, Sedibeng District Commissioner Major General Nkhensani Mukhwevho and other firearm compliance and enforcement officials.
