Today, September 11, the South African Police Service together with the Lesotho Mounted Police Service will destroy 1 787 firearms and firearm parts during a big destruction process in Gauteng.

The SAPS’ Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane together with the Lesotho Mounted Police Service,Commissioner Advocate Borotho Matsoso, the Firearms Compliance and Enforcement Head, Brigadier (Dr) Simon Bopape, the Acting Component Head for Firearm, Liquor and Second-Hand Goods (FLASH), Brigadier Nonhlanhla Sikhakhane and senior SAPS management is heading this process.

According to the SAPS these firearms and firearm parts have been collected during policing operations across the Kingdom of Lesotho and subsequently forfeited to the State.

The SAPS has destroyed 317 811 firearms in the last seven years.

September is officially recognised as Africa Amnesty Month by the African Union for the voluntary surrender and collection of illegally owned weapons.