SEDIBENG.- The South African Police Service (SAPS) destroyed over 13 859 firearms and firearm parts during a destruction process that took  place in Vanderbijlpark, today, Thursday.

The SAPS said that these firearms and firearm parts have been collected during policing operations across the country and subsequently forfeited to the State, while others were handed in voluntarily.

The Sedibeng District Commissioner, Major General Adelaide Mukwevho, was joined by the Acting Component Head for Firearm, Liquor and Second-Hand Goods (FLASH), Brigadier Nonhlanhla Sikhakhane and senior SAPS management as she officiated over the official firearm destruction process.

“This is the second firearm destruction process for the 2025/2026 financial year. SAPS has destroyed 305 934 firearms in the last seven years.”

During this destruction, a total of 7 708 blank guns, airguns and homemade firearms were destroyed.

“Although these weapons are generally perceived as less lethal than conventional firearms, they are often used in the commission of crimes and are deadly.”

On a weekly basis, SAPS said that it seizes no less than 100 illegal firearms through tracing operations, stop-and-searches, and other targeted crime combating activities.  Some of the firearms are linked to finalised criminal cases such as farm attacks, cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies and crimes against women and children.

Others were voluntarily surrendered or handed in during firearm amnesty periods.

All firearms with working mechanisms were subjected to IBIS testing to determine if they had been utilised in any commission of crimes.