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The South African Police Service has destroyed over 16 049 firearms seized during operations countrywide.
SAPS said some of the weapons that were destroyed at a smelter in Vanderbijl Park in Gauteng on Thursday, were also handed in voluntarily.
“The SAPS has to continually detect and remove illegal firearms from circulation as they are being used to commit serious and violent crimes.
“Melting these firearms therefore ensures that the proliferation of firearms is dealt a blow,” SAPS said in a statement.
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According to the statement, handguns accounted for 12 502 of the over 16 000 firearms destroyed, while 1 921 were rifles, 1 305 shotguns, and 47 others described as “combination firearms”.
The Deputy National Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili oversaw the destruction process.
SAPS said the firearms, parts and ammunition were seized during policing operations such as Operation Shanela and subsequently forfeited.
“Other firearms are linked to finalised cases related to violence against women and children, cash-in-transit robberies, as well as firearms that were voluntarily surrendered during the Amnesty period.
“These firearms have already been subjected to IBIS testing to determine whether they are linked to other crimes committed,” SAPS said.
"This brings the total number of firearms and firearm parts destroyed over the past six years to 279 594," said spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.
