READ: SAPS Destroys 12,499 Firearms in Vanderbijlpark to Curb Illegal Arms Circulation

VANDERBIJLPARK, July 9, 2025 – The South African Police Service (SAPS) destroyed 12,499 firearms and ammunition at Cape Gate Steel in Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, as part of its ongoing efforts to remove illegal weapons from circulation. The operation, overseen by National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, marks a significant step in reducing gun-related violence across the country.

The destroyed firearms included 9,748 handguns, 1,334 rifles, 872 shotguns, and 45 combination firearms, all seized during various policing activities, including the nationwide Operation Shanela. Gauteng contributed the largest share of the weapons, with 5,099 firearms, followed by the Western Cape with 2,333, KwaZulu-Natal with 1,574, Eastern Cape with 1,432, Free State with 460, Mpumalanga with 519, North West with 417, Limpopo with 343, and Northern Cape with 322.

General Masemola emphasized that the destruction is a milestone in SAPS’s campaign to reclaim streets from illegal firearms, which are often linked to serious and violent crimes such as murder and attempted murder. Since April 2019, SAPS has destroyed a total of 292,092 firearms through similar operations. An earlier destruction event in February 2025 saw 16,049 firearms obliterated.

Operation Shanela, a high-density crime prevention initiative, has been instrumental in these efforts, with police seizing an average of 100 firearms per week. In the past week alone, 106 firearms were confiscated, following 115 the previous week and 102 the week before. Masemola reiterated SAPS’s commitment to targeted operations, particularly aimed at removing firearms from communities and preventing their use by young people.

The firearms destroyed were either forfeited to the state or voluntarily surrendered, with many linked to crimes such as gender-based violence, cash-in-transit robberies, and other violent offenses. The destruction process ensures these weapons cannot re-enter circulation, contributing to safer communities.

SAPS continues to urge the public to report illegal firearms and collaborate with law enforcement to enhance safety and security across South Africa.