Latest news with #FirearmDestruction
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- The Citizen
Thousands of guns destroyed in Vanderbijlpark
VANDERBIJLPARK – A total of 12 499 firearms were destroyed at the Firearm Destruction at Cape Gate Steel in Vanderbijlpark on July 9. National police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola officiated the event. With this year's earlier destruction of 16 049 firearms, the total number of firearms and parts destroyed by police over the past five years sits at 291 993. Speaking during the pre-presser, Masemola said each one [firearm] represents a potential life saved, a family spared from grief, and a community fortified against chaos. 'These are firearms that once filled terror in our society. This act is not just symbolic, it's a strategic blow against the crime that threatened the safety of our people,' he said. 'The destruction of weapons that once fuelled terror, now reduced to scrap, is not symbolic; it is a strategic blow against the violence that threatens our nation's soul,' he added. Masemola said Gauteng brought the majority of firearms. 'With the firearms that we are destroying today, Gauteng brought in the majority of firearms with 5 099, followed by Western Cape with 2333, KZN with 1574, the Eastern Cape with 1432 firearms, and 460 from the Free State. Limpopo brought in 343, and Mpumalanga contributed 519 each of these firearms while North West contributed 417 and Northern Cape 322,' he said. According to Masemola, firearms remain the most preferred weapon used in serious and violent crime, and that's why it's important to ensure authorities remove them permanently from the streets. 'Through operation Shanela, we are seizing no less than 100 firearms per week. In the last seven days, 106 firearms were seized. We remain resolute and focused on our targeted operations to completely remove these firearms from the hands of community's especially young people,' he concluded. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
09-07-2025
- IOL News
SAPS Commissioner Masemola announces crucial preservation of firearms linked to political killings
On Wednesday, 12,499 firearms are slated for destruction at Cape Gate Steel in Vanderbijlpark during the Firearm Destruction event. South African Police Service National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola holds one of the firearms (black and brown) to be destroyed. Image: SAPS The South African Police Service (SAPS) Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has indicated that firearms used in political killings and high-profile crimes will not be destroyed during the destruction of firearms. Masemola was speaking at a media briefing held at the Firearm Destruction at Cape Gate Steel in Vanderbijlpark on Wednesday. Masemola stated that firearms used in political killings and other high-profile cases will not be destroyed, as those cases are still pending. 'Those firearms are still going to be preserved as evidence.' He urged the public not to assume that these firearms would be destroyed. Masemola said the cases are still pending, and the firearms have been linked to more cases, including the killing of artists in South Africa. 'So they are not about to be destroyed. They will be kept until those cases are finalised.' He stated that 12,499 firearms would be destroyed. The destruction comes after 16,049 firearms were destroyed in February. The commissioner said that over the past five years, police have destroyed 291,993 firearms and parts, including those from Wednesday. A total of 12,499 firearms are expected to be destroyed at the Firearm Destruction at Cape Gate Steel in Vanderbijlpark on Wednesday. Image: SAPS 'With the firearms that we are destroying today, Gauteng brought in the majority of firearms with 5,099, followed by the Western Cape with 2,333, KZN with 1,574, 1,432 firearms were from the Eastern Cape, and 460 from the Free State. Limpopo brought in 343 and Mpumalanga contributed 519 each of these firearms, while North West contributed 417 and Northern Cape 322,' Masemola said. He said that from April 2019 to date, a total of 292,092 firearms have been destroyed through their firearm destruction operations. Masemola explained that firearms are a popular weapon choice in serious and violent crimes, such as murder and attempted murder. Thus, it is crucial for the police to eliminate firearms from South Africa's streets, particularly in high-crime provinces such as Gauteng, the Western Cape, KZN, and the Eastern Cape. According to him, Operation Shanela has resulted in the seizure of no less than 100 firearms weekly. 'In the last seven days, 106 firearms were seized, in the previous week, 115 firearms were seized, and the week before that, 102 firearms were seized,' Masemola said. He added: 'We remain resolute and focused on our targeted operations to completely remove these firearms from the hands of communities, especially young people.'
