Firearms handed in for destruction ?

[Newton]

Greetings,
Really a question for the good folks at SAGA and GOSA ( but of interest to us all )

Do the SAPS keep a detailed list with firearm serial numbers and descriptions as well as ID numbers of owners of firearms handed in for destruction ?

IF so is this list accessible by members of the public - interested and relevant certified organizations
MP's / Parliamentarians ?

[Tripodmvr]

Make, calibre and serial number are quoted for the weapons to be destroyed.

https://www.saps.gov.za/resource_centre/notices/notices.php

[Newton]

Make, calibre and serial number are quoted for the weapons to be destroyed.

https://www.saps.gov.za/resource_centre/notices/notices.php

Mostly handguns with some other rubbish and a few interesting rifles among the many old .303's

Would be nice to have the info in spreadsheet form

The HERITAGE section is particularly interesting

Wonder who it is that decides which firearms qualify ?

[BBCT]

Wonder who it is that decides which firearms qualify ?

Typically (but not exclusively), it's a small group of people from the regional collector's associations. In a given day they may be expected to inspect anywhere from about 300 to about 1500 firearms. Time to decide is measured in seconds. Sometimes there are 40-something Norinco pistols on the table at once and a decision can be made on all of them at a glance. Other times it's a bit more complicated. There is a narrow set of specifications that one must adhere to - I can't remember the wording etc but paraphrasing it into a single sentence: "Firearm needs to have SA heritage value". So a Boer war Martini Henry in appaling condition would qualify to be "saved", but the first ever Holland & Holland double rifle in 700 Nitro Express would not qualify and would have to be destroyed (unless it happened to be owned by a famous South African at some point in time).

The process is also imperfect because, for example, the person on duty that day might miss the fact that a particular Webley revolver (the only Webley out of the set of 1500 firearms) has a certain proof stamp on it that makes it unique because that firearm and proof stamp is outside of his area of expertise.

Once a firearm has been selected, it goes through further selection processes and eventually ends up being put into storage in Pretoria until such time as a process has been developed to get it out of the "for destruction" system. Currently no such process exists so the only thing that can happen is that it gets saved from the furnaces but sits (possibly in a leaky container) somewhere in Pretoria and rusts away to nothingness anyway because it doesn't get cared for. Maybe it would have been better to just put it in the furnace anyway..............?

I've become a bit cynical about this.

[Newton]

Thanks for that info
Clearly the "tsunami" is for the destruction of ALL privately owned firearms
Except of course for certain privileged categories - like favored INTERNATIONAL arms dealers.

Here's a few thoughts

This might already be in operation ?

SAGA and GOSA should have a member that is a full time "embedded" dedicated SAPS liaison interface person
 
They should keep their OWN lists of firearms handed in for destruction via public appeal asking people that are handing in their firearms to provide the firearm information - again to a dedicated member

The same process should be followed for firearms that are lost / stolen / hi-jacked ( whether reported to the SAPS or not )

Following on from this stolen or otherwise obtained firearms that were used in the commission of a crime

This is really SAPS crime intelligence work but we gather from news reporting that the - guard dog guarding the chicken coop is actually a - jackal !

One can almost be assured that GFSA will have these figures and use them deceptively to promote their agenda !

[Newton]

So a Boer war Martini Henry in appaling condition would qualify to be "saved", but
the first ever Holland & Holland double rifle in 700 Nitro Express would not qualify and would have to be destroyed (unless it happened to be owned by a famous South African at some point in time).

NOT ... IF there is a clever SAPS person who has the power to "divert" such a firearm to a foreign dealer

Any idea of the value of such a rifle ? - to a foreign collector ....