SAPS has announced that thousands of firearms and rounds of ammunition have been handed in at the various designated police stations in the first six months of amnesty for illegal and unwanted firearms.
The firearm amnesty began on December 1, 2019, and will end on May 31 of this year.
“As firearms are the instruments commonly used in the commission of crime, especially violent crimes, it is very encouraging that people have taken advantage of this amnesty period and handed in 1 465 guns and 14 861 rounds of ammunition,” said Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, spokesperson for the National Commissioner.
He said the firearms handed in included 1 248 handguns, 75 shotguns and 142 rifles.
“While the majority of the firearms have been handed in for destruction, we have also received applications for the relicensing of firearms whose licences have been terminated in terms of Section 28 of the Firearms Control Act for 264 firearms, including that of 247 handguns including revolvers and pistols, eight shotguns and nine rifles,” said Naidoo.
He added people in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition should in this period hand over firearms without fear of prosecution.
However, Naidoo said any person who hands over a firearm that has been used in the commission of a crime will not be exonerated.
“All firearms that have been or are being handed in will undergo ballistic testing to ensure that such firearms have not been used in the commission of crimes before it can be considered for destruction,” said Naidoo.
SAPS has made provisions for the safe-keeping of all firearms handed in, such as:
• Nine centralised storage facilities in all provinces which have been subjected to risk assessment
• Designated amnesty officials and SAPS officials have been subjected to thorough screening and vetting and only those that met the identified criteria have been appointed to handle amnesty firearms handed in.
Naidoo said a detective investigative team has been established to investigate cases of firearms linked to crimes.
He said when the amnesty period ends, firearms will be audited for the purpose of destruction.
Naidoo said the process of the destruction of firearms will then be followed to destroy amnesty firearms, firearms parts and ammunition.
He said SAPS smelted over 20 000 illegal firearms last November.
“We are confident that more people will come forward with illegal and unwanted guns given that during the festive period we have received this many firearms,” said Naidoo.
For all queries related to amnesty, call the Central Firearm Register Call Centre on 012 353 6111.
