Cape Town – The Cape Town Metro Police Department (CT MPD) has warned that criminals are increasingly converting imitation firearms into weapons capable of firing live ammunition, significantly heightening the risk of serious injury or death.
In one recent incident, neighbourhood safety officers at a school in Macassar responded after a learner was found in possession of what initially appeared to be a toy gun.
Working alongside the South African Police Service (SAPS), the officers discovered “an imitation firearm and 30 live rounds of ammunition and arrested the 17-year-old for the possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition,” said CT MPD spokesperson Ruth Solomons.
She added that the female suspect provided leads which led to the discovery of “another imitation firearm with one live round of ammunition” at her boyfriend’s home, reported EWN.
The SAPS has warned that blank-firing or replica guns — originally intended for film, training, or signalling purposes — are now “being used in criminal activity” because they are easier to obtain and can be modified to fire live rounds, News24 reported.
According to IOL, Cape Town police have previously confiscated large numbers of imitation firearms. Between July and November 2019 alone, the Metro Police seized 28 imitation firearms and 336 rounds of ammunition.
While the issue is not new, authorities say the growing trend of converting imitation guns into functional weapons is deeply concerning.
They are urging the public to treat any imitation firearm sighting with the same caution as a real gun and to report any suspicious objects or individuals immediately.
As Solomons noted, even a weapon that appears to be a toy or replica “could result in serious injury.”
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
