Discharging a Firearm in Public is a Criminal Offence

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) condemns and discourages the discharging of firearms in public places.

Members of the EMDP Public Order Policing and SWAT units arrested a 38-year-old gunman who allegedly fired a gun in a cemetery.

According to EMPD Acting Spokesperson Kobeli Mokheseng, discharging a firearm in public comes with dire consequences such as innocent people getting wounded or dying from stray bullets.  He said in 2017, a boy was struck in the back by a stray bullet while playing soccer in Daveyton. The bullet was allegedly fired by passing mourners returning from a funeral. Fortunately, the bullet was removed and the boy recovered. 

“The EMPD condemns the behaviour of discharging a firearm in public. It is a criminal offence to do so regardless. We discourage this kind of behaviour by enforcing or through arrest,” says Mokheseng.

Mokheseng add that members of the public are advised to report such unruly behaviour as it puts the lives of innocent people at risk. Members of the public can report the discharging of firearms at their nearest police station.