The South African Police Service (SAPS) destroyed 11,859 firearms and associated parts on 9 July 2026 to mark International Firearm Destruction Day. The haul included 9,596 handguns, 1,102 rifles, 798 shotguns, 33 combination weapons, and 330 firearm parts, alongside 4,089 additional blank guns, airguns, and homemade devices.
Official Response And Strategic Impact
The destruction initiative is part of an ongoing effort to remove illicit weaponry from circulation and reduce the prevalence of violent crime across the country. SAPS officials confirmed that 157 of these destroyed firearms were directly linked to finalised criminal cases involving violence against women and children, while three others were connected to cash-in-transit robberies.
It is pleasing to note that we are also destroying firearms today that were used in incidents of gender-based violence. Firearms are destroying our families and our communities. Today’s destruction demonstrates government’s commitment to detecting and permanently removing illegal firearms and ammunition from our country.
This statement was made by Deputy Minister of Police Polly Boshielo during the destruction event. She emphasised that the process is essential to curbing the cycle of violence that disproportionately affects vulnerable groups in South African communities.
Historical Trends In Firearm Control
This latest operation brings the total number of firearms destroyed by police over the past seven years to 317,811. Before the items are destroyed, all weapons with functional mechanisms are subjected to rigorous ballistic testing via the Integrated Ballistic Identification System to ensure they are no longer needed for ongoing investigations.
The firearms destroyed on 9 July were largely gathered through police-led interventions such as Operation Shanela, as well as voluntary surrenders and state-mandated amnesty periods. Authorities are expected to continue these destruction cycles throughout the 2026/27 financial year as part of a broader, sustained strategy to reduce the circulation of illegal arms.