Public urged to work with police in ridding society of illegal guns

The official firearm destruction process in Boipatong, Vanderbijlpark, has been hailed as a significant step in the police’s efforts to rid the streets of illegal firearms and make communities safer.

Last week, Sedibeng District Police Commissioner, Major General, Nkhensani Lemba, presided over the destruction of over 18 000 guns, firearm parts, and ammunition that had been forfeited to the state or voluntarily handed in by owners across the district.

General Lemba emphasised the importance of removing these firearms from circulation, as many of them had been used in violent crimes, such as gender-based violence and cash-in-transit armed robberies.

General Lemba said law enforcement agencies were actively pursuing those with illegal firearms and would not rest until the streets were safe from this dangerous threat.

“We are excited that today we are ending the circulation of these firearms because there won’t be a chance that they will be missing or get back into our communities. This is a big success, and we call on our people that if they have firearms and don’t use them, we encourage that they surrender them so we can destroy them,” she said.

Operation Shanela, a focused effort to put firearms off the streets, was highlighted during the event in Boipatong.

A public meeting was also held, emphasising the importance of the community and the taxi industry collaborating with the police in the battle to keep communities safe.

Speakers encouraged the public to report any suspicious activities related to illegal firearms. Written by Tshenolo Khaile