Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police chairperson Ian Cameron said on Wednesday that the 155 illegal firearms seized by the South African Police Service (Saps) represented a “drop in the ocean” in the context of the illegal firearms that continue to be in circulation.

Saps has, through intelligence-led operations across the country, seized 155 illegal firearms over the past week.

However, Cameron said that until the Saps optimally used the might and prowess of the Intelligence Services, these small victories would not gather momentum and create the necessary ripple effect needed to stop crime and criminality.

He highlighted that illegal firearms continued to be the leading weapon of choice for violent crime in the country, calling for concerted effort to be made to remove them from the streets.

“…this cannot continue to be a talking point; action is long overdue,” Cameron emphasised.

He explained that the seizures showed the value of “disruptive and intelligence-led operations in the fight against crime”.

Cameron also congratulated the Western Cape police, a province which he saidwas hugely affected by gang violence and killing, for ensuring the seizure of 38 handguns in the province, saying the removal of these firearms had contributed to saved lives. 

Furthermore, while it was commendable that 14 165 suspects were arrested, he highlighted that these arrests would remain “meaningless” if they were not followed up with effective criminal prosecution and incarceration.

Cameron also commended the Saps Anti-Kidnapping Task Team for rescuing an Ethiopian businessman from a kidnapping ring in Johannesburg.

“The upward trend in kidnappings requires decisive intervention and capacitation of the Anti-Kidnapping Task Team is one way of tackling the scourge and ensuring safety and security for all,” he said.