WATCH: Police destroy 30 000 guns
The police destroyed close to 30 000 firearms at Arcelor Mittal Steel in Vereeniging, south of Johannesburg, on Wednesday.
Police Minister Bheki Cele said most of the firearms were surrendered voluntarily by their owners.
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“There are more here that have been surrendered than though the action of the South African police,” he said.
#SAPSFireArms | SAPS is set to destroy close to 30 000 firearms confiscated and some handover to the police voluntarily by members of the public. pic.twitter.com/srvCOIwNlh
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) April 17, 2019
Cele believes it would be better if only the armed forces, police, and soldiers are allowed to carry firearms and not private citizens.
He supported the statement by saying the country’s murder statistics show that most victims are killed by a gun.
“It would be better if one day private citizens do not have firearms at all ,” he said.
#SAPSFireArms | Proceeding to destroy the 30 000 firearms has started. pic.twitter.com/n6aVYAsJjy
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) April 17, 2019
Cele believes the destruction of the firearms should happen more regularly so it doesn’t end up in the hands of criminals.
The last time the police destroyed a similar amount of firearms was back in 2016.