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In a significant crackdown on crime, the Gauteng division of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has announced a major haul in their ongoing battle against illegal firearms and ammunition in the region. From the 1st of October to the 20th of November 2024, police forces recovered a staggering 778 unlicensed firearms and 3827 rounds of ammunition.
This operation, spread over approximately seven weeks, also led to the arrest of 929 individuals linked to the possession of these illegal items. The Acting Provincial Commissioner of Gauteng, Major General Fred Kekana, praised the efforts of the SAPS teams and highlighted the role of partnerships in these achievements. Collaborations with Business Against Crime South Africa through the Eyes and Ears (E2) initiative and Community Policing Forums have been instrumental in amplifying the impact of the police operations.
The SAPS employed a mix of proactive strategies to secure these results, including high-density operations focusing on known crime hotspots, strategic stop and search actions, vehicle checkpoints (VCP), and routine crime prevention patrols. These efforts are part of a broader approach to disrupt the cycle of violence and crime that unlicensed firearms and ammunition can facilitate.
One significant aspect of the recovery process is the planned ballistic testing of the seized firearms. This testing is crucial as it could potentially link the weapons to other serious and unsolved crimes, providing breakthroughs in cold cases and helping to deliver justice to victims.
The success seen in Gauteng is a beacon of hope and a clear signal of the SAPS's commitment to reducing the proliferation of illegal firearms which are often at the core of violent crime in South Africa. Major General Kekana has reassured the public of the ongoing commitment of the SAPS to work in solidarity with all sectors of society to curb criminal activities and enhance safety.
Community involvement is also highlighted as a crucial element in these efforts. Maj Gen Kekana and the SAPS have called on citizens to continue to report suspicious activities or crime by contacting the nearest police station, utilizing the SAPS Crime Stop hotline or anonymously through the MySAPS App, which is accessible on any smartphone.
As we move forward, these intensified operations underline the SAPS’s dedication to maintaining law and order through enhanced public safety measures and strategic law enforcement partnerships. The community is encouraged to remain vigilant and cooperate with law enforcement to sustain this momentum against crime in Gauteng.