Illegal guns dumped on cops

2005-03-10 18:13

Zenzele Kuhlase and Bismark Lubisi

Nelspruit - Police are waking up to find unlicensed guns tossed in their yards or hidden under their cars as people respond to government's call to hand in illegal firearms.

Inspector Isaac Mnisi of KaNyamazane police station outside Nelspruit in Mpumalanga said other guns that had been handed in were those whose owners had died and whose families turned in the weapons.

"But some of them have been dumped at our staff's houses, under their cars or in their gardens," he said.

"If the weapon was used in a crime, we unfortunately won't be able to prosecute anyone."

Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula will give an address at KaNyamazane Stadium on March 23 as part of the amnesty campaign, that ends on March 31.

Those who don't hand in their illegal weapons by the end of the month will face full prosecution when caught.

The amnesty does not cover those who have firearms that have been used in criminal activities.

Since Friday, 127 people have been arrested in and around KaNyamazane for crimes involving guns, said Mnisi.

He said the station also continued to receive complaints about guns being fired at night.

- African Eye