The City of Cape Town (COCT) says law enforcement agencies confiscated 11 firearms and several rounds of ammunition during the month of July.
According to the COCT, officers recovered illegal firearms in various parts of the province. One firearm was recovered in Atlantis on July 15, four in Nyanga, two in Hanover Park, and one in Khayelitsha, Delft, and Bishop Lavis respectively. Officers also arrested a man in Brown’s Farm for being in the possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition on Saturday, July 31.
Mayco Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith says that confiscating illegal firearms means preventing a potentially serious crime from happening and protecting innocent lives from being lost.
“There are far more illegal firearms in the possession of criminals than those we have confiscated. Our consistent and increased confiscation of illegal firearms send out a clear message to criminals that we will not allow them to roam the streets of our communities,” Smith reiterated.
Smith says the officers’ latest recovery of an illegal handgun with a loaded magazine and one round chambered is a possible indication that the gang members were about to use the firearm.
“It also indicates that they are not afraid to use the illegal firearm while knowing very well that it is unlawful,” Smith added.
Meanwhile, Metro Police officers also arrested a taxi driver on Tuesday, August 3, for the possession of an unlicensed firearm. The 48-year-old driver was also wearing a bulletproof vest.
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Picture: COCT
