Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba has backed a call by South African soccer chief Danny Jordaan for a drive to destroy illegal firearms.

Mr Jordaan was quoted as having told the memorial service for Senzo Meyiwa, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi and Phindile Mwelase on Thursday that "we must take those guns to the furnace and build a statue for Senzo Meyiwa.”

Archbishop Makgoba said in a statement today (Sunday):

"Thousands of Christians and people of other faiths are praying today for the families of our sports heroes. Our heartfelt condolences go out to them.

"Their deaths could not have come at a worse time for our nation, coming as they do while dozens of other families endure an agonising wait for the bodies of their loved ones to be repatriated from Lagos after the church guest house collapse. We hope that happens soon now.

"I support Danny Jordaan fully in his call for a drive against illegal weapons. We need a major intervention to curb violence and the use of guns in South Africa.

"We should beat our swords into ploughshares and our spears into pruning-hooks by collecting illegal guns across the country, melting them down in furnaces, and turning them into objects which stand for peace."