31 000 firearms destroyed is good news for the country

GUN FREE South Africa (GFSA) welcomes the destruction of almost 31 000 illegal firearms by the SAPS on July 7, the eve of International Small Arms Destruction Day.

The destruction of 30 913 handguns, 1 452 rifles, 894 shotguns and 725 firearms, mostly seized by the police in intelligence-driven operations and through tip-offs from citizens, means the guns can no longer cause harm.

When the UN first declared International Small Arms Destruction as July 9, in 2001, the government supported the initiative.

Almost 20 years later, as chair of the AU which has identified silencing the guns as a key strategy to creating conditions conducive to Africa’s development, the destruction of firearms conveys our government’s commitment to silencing the guns in Africa.

Firearms, ammunition and firearm parts in storage awaiting destruction are vulnerable to being diverted. South Africa’s experience confirms this risk as in the example of ex-colonel Chris Prinsloo who was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment for selling confiscated and surrendered guns to Western Cape gang leaders.

Two key steps the GFSA has urged SAPS to take to reduce the risk:

♦ Marking of firearms: All firearms to be marked.

♦ Independent verification: An independent verification task force be established before the destruction. It be tasked with ensuring firearms, ammunition and firearm parts listed on schedules published on www. saps.gov.za are destroyed.

ADÈLE KIRSTEN | Director, Gun Free South

Africa