Vereeniging - The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Gauteng has destroyed thousands of weapons at ArcelorMittal’s steel processing plant.
The weapons, which were on display in large sacks, included rifles, pistols, shotguns, revolvers, knives, pangas and axes.
Most of the weapons came from police and Community Police Forum (CPF) operations, while other firearms were voluntarily handed in by licensed owners.
Provincial commissioner Mzwandile Petros said a total of 4 000 firearms and around 54 000 knives from various operations will be melted down.
The 54 000 knives were from police operations in the last three months alone.
"Most of the weapons destroyed had been used to commit crimes, but the cases these weapons originated from have all been finalised by the courts,” said Petros.
By destroying the firearms, Petros told SAnews, government was affirming its commitment to reducing and combatting illegal firearms in the province.
"It shows that we are committed to making guns less available and thus reducing the number of people who die from firearms that are in the wrong hands."
He said destroying the weapons would ensure that they did not resurface in the hands of dangerous criminals, who would use them to commit violent crimes.
CPF Provincial Chairperson, Andy Mashile, who also witnessed the weapons destruction, commended the police for recovering the weapons and permanently destroying them, which he said would make communities safer. – SAnews.gov.za
