GEORGE NEWS - Recent reports and community feedback indicate growing unease regarding the prevalence of illegal firearms in the area. Community members have expressed their fears and pointed out the risks these firearms pose to public safety.
"You hear of guns being used in most robberies and home invasions. Now people are shot in hits in our communities," said a concerned resident.
"Our law enforcement agencies and police need a better plan to tackle this problem, else our people will start living like the people on the Cape Flats."
Another resident, who has insight on community matters on ground level, said that getting your hands on an illegal gun is not that difficult, as it is readily available in certain areas with gangs expanding their footprint there.
"The few illegal guns police confiscate when suspects are arrested are nothing compared with what's in circulation on our streets," said the resident.
In light of these concerns, George Herald asked Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies for an assessment of illegal firearm activity in George and wanted to know whether there has been a noticeable rise in such incidents.
Spies said that statistics for crime incidents cannot be released due to a national moratorium, but will be disclosed by the police minister on a quarterly basis.
He said that current crime trends do not indicate increases in serious and violent crimes at any police station precinct in George.
"The shooting incidents reported at Conville and Thembalethu are a subject of ongoing police investigations and before court. In the two most recent incidents, arrests were made and the accused are in custody. At least three firearms were confiscated during the past month. All these firearms were sent to the police forensic laboratory for ballistic tests to determine whether they could be linked to criminal incidents reported to police."
In the latest incident, police nabbed a suspect (36) at his home in Zone 8, Thembalethu on Saturday 20 July for the possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition during an intelligence-driven operation.
Asked if residents have reason to be worried about illegal firearms, Spies said the police conduct various operations as part of Operation Shanela to safeguard communities.
"A key focus is to rid communities of firearms, drugs and dangerous weapons. These items threaten the safety of communities and it is our endeavour to remove these items from the streets, as well as firearms out of the hands of criminals."
"We conduct daily engagements with community safety structures and regular imbizos or public engagements in crime-infested areas in an effort to mobilise the community in the fight against crime."
He urged the public to come forward with any information regarding firearms or any other criminal activity. Such information could be shared with the local police station, on the official MySAPS app or Crime Stop 08600 10111.
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