JOHANNESBURG, July 11 -- The South African Police Service (SAPS) said Thursday that they have destroyed 14,000 firearms, firearm parts and ammunition, which were used to commit crimes, on Thursday in Johannesburg.

"These firearms, firearm parts and ammunition have been collected during policing operations across the country and subsequently forfeited to the state, as others were handed in voluntarily," the SAPS said in a statement.

The SAPS said this is the first time in the 2023-2024 financial year to destroy firearms, and they have destroyed more than 263,545 firearms since 2019.

  - Xinhua