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Over 1000 Arms Destroyed in KZN

BuaNews (Pretoria)
NEWS
August 24, 2004
Posted to the web August 24, 2004

By David Masango
Pretoria
KwaZulu-Natal continues to take the lead in destroying the most number of
illegal firearms and today over 1000 weapons were destroyed by police in
Prospecton, south of Durban, as part of Operation Sethunya.
Sethunya was launched primarily to recover unlicensed firearms and ammunition
and to ensure compliance with the Firearms Control Act.
It forms part of a number of projects and operations that the South African
Police Service (SAPS) has embarked on nationally to rid communities of illegal
firearms and to make them safe and secure.
Today was the sixth time that Sethunya was responsible for the destruction of
illegal weapons, including AK-47 rifles, other rifles, pistols, revolvers as
well as homemade guns, in the province.
In the past year, police in KwaZulu-Natal embarked on five other destructions,
destroying over 4 700 firearms.
The firearms had gone through all the judicial processes and ballistic tests
prior to their destruction.
Speaking at the destruction site, KwaZulu-Natal Safety and Security MEC Bheki
Cele said it was well known that firearms were the single biggest contributor
to serious and violent crimes.
He said it was for that reason that police management had been prompted to put
into operation a comprehensive plan with a view of ridding communities of these
weapons.
"This, together with the undying cooperation of the public at large, we have
made great headway in achieving our objectives.
"Various strategies, including cordon and searches, roadblocks and vehicle
check points were implemented. Crime Intelligence also played a prominent role
in gathering intelligence on the detection of illegal firearms," said MEC Cele.
He said the successes achieved regarding the recovery of firearms ought to be
attributed to the commitment of police officers "who strive tirelessly to
ensure the safety and security of the people of KZN and visitors to this
province".
The MEC said the police's commitment had resulted in the recovery of over 6 500
illegal firearms, excluding those firearms and ammunition recovered by the
security forces in normal day-to-day policing activities.
Meanwhile, Mr Cele said with the implementation of the new Firearms Control
Act, government hoped to curb the negligent loss and theft of firearms that had
plagued the country in the past.
"Having said this I want to also urge licensed firearm holders to ensure the
safety of their firearms. Firearms when not carried on person should be stored
in a safe so that children are not allowed easy access to them," appealed the
MEC.

   

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