PRETORIA, GAUTENG — In a major stride toward curbing violent crime, the SAPS firearm destruction campaign successfully rendered 11,859 illegal weapons and components permanently inoperable this Thursday. Spearheaded by Police Deputy Minister Polly Boshielo, the massive national disposal exercise coincided with International Firearm Destruction Day, a United Nations initiative observed globally every year on July 9.
A Massive Blow to the Illegal Weapons Trade
The extensive mechanical destruction process targeted a wide array of confiscated weaponry. The dismantled cache included 9,596 handguns, 1,102 rifles, 798 shotguns, 33 combination firearms, and 330 assorted firearm parts.
This single-day event significantly adds to the national tally, bringing the cumulative number of firearms destroyed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) over the last seven years to an impressive 317,811.
The high-profile event was attended by top-tier police leadership, including Lieutenant General Maropeng Mamotheti (Divisional Commissioner for Visible Policing and Operations), Major General Nkhensani Mukhwevho (Sedibeng District Commissioner), Brigadier Nonhlanhla Sikhakhane (Acting Component Head for Firearm, Liquor and Second-Hand Goods), and Brigadier (Dr) Simon Bopape (Section Head for Firearm Compliance and Enforcement).
Targeting Gender-Based and Organized Crime
A significant portion of the dismantled arsenal was recovered during high-intensity law enforcement drives, most notably Operation Shanela. Crucially, the destruction also served as a measure of justice for victims, as 157 of the seized weapons were directly tied to finalized court cases involving violent crimes against women and children. An additional three firearms were linked to notorious cash-in-transit heists.
The remainder of the stockpile consisted of weapons voluntarily given up by the public or handed over during designated firearm amnesty windows.
Provincial Breakdown of Destroyed Weapons
The geographic distribution of the confiscated and destroyed firearms highlights the widespread nature of illegal gun possession across the country’s nine provinces:
- Gauteng: 3,863
- KwaZulu-Natal: 2,047
- Western Cape: 2,037
- Eastern Cape: 1,500
- Free State: 800
- Mpumalanga: 500
- Northern Cape: 419
- Limpopo: 371
- North West: 322
Neutralizing the “Less Lethal” Threat
Beyond conventional lethal weapons, the SAPS also systematically destroyed 4,089 blank-firing guns, airguns, and improvised homemade firearms. Law enforcement officials warn that while these items are frequently dismissed as non-lethal, they are easily modified to fire live rounds and are a staple in the criminal underworld.
Continuous Enforcement and Forensic Auditing
Deputy Minister Boshielo emphasized that ensuring state-forfeited weapons are physically destroyed guarantees they will never find their way back onto the streets, highlighting the state’s relentless drive against violent crime.
Reflecting on the social impact of the operation, Boshielo stated: “It is pleasing to note that we are also destroying firearms today that were used in incidents of gender-based violence. Firearms are destroying our families and our communities. Today’s destruction demonstrates government’s commitment to detecting and permanently removing illegal firearms and ammunition from our country.”
The war on illegal guns remains a daily priority for the SAPS, which averages the seizure of at least 100 unlicensed firearms every week. These recoveries are the result of relentless tracing operations, stop-and-search checkpoints, and targeted interventions. For context, during last week’s nationwide Shanela II crackdown alone, authorities managed to confiscate 121 unlicensed firearms alongside 2,584 rounds of live ammunition.
Before any weapon is destroyed, it undergoes rigorous auditing and comprehensive ballistic testing. This critical forensic step allows investigators to determine if the firearm was used in other unsolved crimes, ensuring that even weapons surrendered during amnesty periods are thoroughly vetted before their final destruction.