Johannesburg - Over 8,000 firearms have gone missing over the past three years from South African police supplies, the government revealed in parliament this week according to the South African Press Association (SAPA).

In response to a question from the opposition, the ministry for safety and security said police had lost, stolen or misplaced 8,286 pistols, shotguns, rifles and revolvers, SAPA reported.

Of these, under 900 had been recovered.

South Africa has some of the world's highest crime rates. Over 50 people are murdered each day in the country, many of them shot dead during armed robberies.

Most of the weapons used in crime are stolen from civilians or the state. (dpa)