RUSTENBURG HERALD - MOGWASE - On Tuesday, 19 August the South African Police Service in Mogwase, led by Station Commander Col Raphata, in partnership with the North West Provincial Firearm Control Office, held an awareness campaign at Machama Community Hall in Manamakgotheng Village. The initiative, according to Sgt Ofentse Mokgadi, Rustenburg police spokesperson, followed complaints about a shop at Moruleng Mall reportedly selling toy guns that look similar to real firearms.
During the session, Lieut Col Mohau Gaobotse explained that, according to the law, a firearm is a device that uses pressure from burning powder to fire a projectile through a barrel. He emphasised that although toy replicas may resemble firearms, they are not classified as such and therefore fall outside police control.
Representatives of the Bakgatla Royal House attended the event and assured the community that they would engage the mall and the shop owners on the matter and later provide feedback.
The SAPS encouraged continued collaboration between traditional leadership, community members, and law enforcement to address safety-related concerns.
