Illegal gun ownership rife in KwaDukuza townships

Illegal gun ownership is a growing problem in KwaDukuza.

Since the July 2021 unrest, KwaDukuza police have noticed a rapid increase of illegal gun usage in townships.

Police spokesperson, Constable Sipesihle Myeni, said almost every week police receive a report of an armed robbery at different township tuck shops owned by foreign nationals.

“In some cases, the owners of these tuck shops are shot. This suggests there are lots of illegal guns in circulation. To recover them, we need residents to report those who own illegal firearms,” said Myeni.

Myeni stressed the issue of random gunfire in townships was out of control.

“A suspected drug dealer was shot and killed in Ntshawini on March 7.

“Since then, guns are fired day and night in Ntshawini, especially in the Congo area. No one seems interested in reporting the people responsible,” said Myeni.

A foreign national was also arrested on Monday, March 7, for being in possession of an illegal firearm in Malende, Groutville.

The man was arrested at his tuck shop following a tip-off.

Police commended the residents for doing so and said public support was crucial to eradicate illegal firearms.

KwaDukuza’s Community Policing Forum chairperson, Dr Mfuneni Zungu, said much work needs to be done to recover illegal guns.

“With most crimes committed in KwaDukuza, there is a gun involved no matter how minor the crime might be. We even recover guns from schoolchildren. So it poses the serious question, where are these guns coming from?” asked Zungu.

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