6 months ago
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Mchunu said SAPS knew where most of the firearms come from but have to verify the information and investigate how they are brought into South Africa.
“There is a dedicated unit that deals with illegal firearms, they have to work 24/7. It's clear the number of firearms is quite high and it's worrying.”
In almost all cash-in-transit robberies the perpetrators carry heavy firearms.
He was speaking in the Eastern Cape after 18 family members were shot dead as they gathered to prepare for a cleansing of death ceremony for a mother and daughter killed a year ago.
Police confiscated 117 firearms and 872 rounds of ammunition between Monday and Sunday during Operation Shanela.
Crime analyst Dr Chris De Kock said South Africa has a serious problem with organised crime and armed criminals.
“We also have hitmen who carry very heavy-calibre guns like AK47s, R4s and R5s which they steal from the police, the defence force or security companies. Those heavy-calibre guns can cause havoc as we have seen in the Eastern Cape over the weekend,” he said.
Some of the weapons police have recently seized from criminals:
