WATCH | The inspection that turned up 100 firearms at a Soweto security firm

Firearms

Johannesburg – Police have seized 100 firearms and ammunition from a security company in Soweto after a compliance inspection found the company had allegedly breached provisions of the Firearms Control Act.

The firearms were confiscated by members deployed under Operation BUYISA during an inspection at the security company on Saturday, 22 August 2026.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the operation forms part of ongoing efforts to remove illegal firearms from circulation and ensure that firearm owners and companies comply with the law.

“Following a compliance inspection operation, members deployed under OPERATION BUYISA seized 100 firearms and ammunition from a security company based in Soweto, Johannesburg, on Saturday, 22 August 2026, for contraventions of the Firearms Control Act, 60 of 2000,” SAPS said.

According to the preliminary findings, the security company’s accreditation with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) had recently been suspended.

Police said the responsible person at the company then failed to dispose of the firearms as required following the suspension.

“According to a preliminary report, the security company’s Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSiRA) accreditation was recently suspended, whereafter the responsible person failed to dispose of the firearms as required,” SAPS said.

The inspection also found that the company’s firearm storage facility did not comply with the requirements of the Firearms Control Act.

“The compliance inspection further revealed that the company’s firearm storage facility does not meet the requirements stipulated in the Act,” police said.

The seized firearms and ammunition will now undergo further examination as investigators seek to establish whether any of the weapons were used in criminal activities.

“The seized firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing to determine whether they have been used in the commission of any crimes,” SAPS said.

Operation BUYISA

Operation BUYISA was established in 2025 as a national intervention aimed at reducing the number of illegal firearms in circulation and improving compliance among lawful firearm owners.

SAPS said the operation is part of broader efforts to combat the proliferation and misuse of firearms across the country.

The latest seizure comes as police continue conducting inspections and operations targeting firearms that are either illegally held or being kept in breach of the requirements of the Firearms Control Act.

Investigations into the seized firearms are continuing.

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