Firearm Recoveries by the SAPS
The Illegal Firearms Units of the South African Police Service has seized a sizeable number of firearms over the last few years. The table below provides a breakdown of Illegal Firearms Unit seizures by year and type of firearm:
| Table 22: Firearms Seized by the SAPS 1994 — 1998 |
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| Type of Firearm Seized | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | Total 1994 - 1998 |
| Rifles | 3 888 | 3 535 | 3 244 | 2 680 | 2 833 | 16 180 |
| Pistols (incl. Mach. Pistols) | 5 407 | 7 289 | 9 292 | 7 064 | 11 521 | 40573 |
| Revolvers | 2370 | 2842 | 2812 | 2272 | 3282 | 13578 |
| Homemade firearms | 3 124 | 2 624 | 2 806 | 2 954 | 3 066 | 14 574 |
| Total | 14 789 | 16 290 | 18 154 | 14 970 | 20 702 | 84 905 |
| Source: South African Police Services, illegal Firearm Investigation Unit | ||||||
These figures include licenced and illegal firearms confiscated by the SAPS as well as firearms used in crime. A total of 84 905 firearms of all types were seized from 1994 to 1998.
The bulk of the firearms seized have been pistols. Seizures of pistols increased by 113% between 1994 and 1998. Handguns have consistently made up more than half of the total number of firearms seized each year. Seizures of rifles decreased by 27% during the above-mentioned period.
The following table provides a more detailed breakdown of the quantities and types of firearms seized by the SAPS for the years 1994 to 1998:
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