Statistics show that 75 percent of attempted murders are committed with unlicensed firearms. More often than not if the perpetrator is not linked to the crime and arrested, it becomes another unsolved mystery.

To penetrate the illegal underworld of unlicensed firearm ownership, police are constantly embarking on operations to find and seize these weapons and ammunition and arrest the individuals harbouring them.

Such operations were held during mid-April and have yielded fruitful results. Heading a team of members from specialised units, Lieutenant Colonel Bhekinkosi Gasa started a crackdown on unlicensed firearms.

An assortment of recoveries was made ranging from livestock to unlicensed firearms and ammunition. In addition six suspects were arrested for various crimes ranging from possession of unlicensed firearms to dagga and suspected stolen property.

The recoveries were plentiful, as police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane explains: “Ten unlicensed firearms such as seven pistols and three rifles were recovered from the suspects. A total of a 165 live rounds of ammunition, five bags of dagga, a bag of dagga seeds, 25 goats and five sheep.”

The arrests were made at Upper Tugela, Bergville, Winterton, Estcourt, Ezakheni and other surrounding areas.

“The operation is on-going in the UThukela areas. The suspects briefly appeared in the various magistrate’s courts,” added Major Zwane.
The multiple arrests and recoveries have led to praise from top brass in the police ranks.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni applauded the members for recovery of stolen stock and unlicensed firearms.

“All these firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing to establish whether they were used for committing any crime in the country. The number of unlicensed firearms recovered proves that the police are making sure that all those who possess unlicensed firearms are brought to book,” she said.