By Mapaballo Borotho

- Police have destroyed 13 859 firearms linked to serious crimes, bringing the seven-year total to 305 934.
- Most of the weapons were confiscated during operations such as OPERATION SHANELA or surrendered during amnesty periods.
- Authorities continue to seize over 100 illegal firearms weekly in ongoing crime-combating efforts.
At least 13 859 firearms have been destroyed as part of the police’s efforts to fight crime in South Africa, during SAPS’ second firearm destruction process for the 2025/26 financial year.
This brings the total number of firearms destroyed over the past seven years to 305 934.
Police spokesperson, Amanda Van Wyk, says the majority of the destroyed firearms were confiscated during various policing operations, including OPERATION SHANELA, and were forfeited to the State.
“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,” said Van Wyk.
Among the destroyed firearms is a total of 7 708 blank guns, airguns and homemade firearms, which were also destroyed during the process.
Van Wyk says although these weapons are often perceived as less lethal than conventional firearms, they are often used in the commission of crimes.
On a weekly basis, members of the police force seize more than 100 illegal firearms during tracing operations, stop-and-searches, and other targeted crime-combating activities.
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