With more than 700 firearms stolen and lost during the 2023-24 financial year, the SAPS was fighting crime against their own weapons, police top brass were told.
The SAPS presented its annual report before the police portfolio committee this week that 89 more firearms were stolen or lost during the financial year.
“During this period, a total of 741 firearms were confirmed stolen/lost,” the report read.
Of the total number, 684 firearms were reported stolen and 57 lost.
The most stolen or lost firearms were reported in Gauteng with 249, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 147, the Eastern Cape 110 and Mpumalanga 66.
Mpumalanga recorded 66, Limpopo 50, Western Cape 46, North West 36, Free State 22 and Northern Cape 15.
The report stated that given the nature of police work, the risk of firearm loss was ever-present.
“The high number of stolen or lost firearms owned by the SAPS significantly affects firearm regulation and increases crime rates.
“These firearms often end up in criminal hands, eroding public confidence in the SAPS.”
“It is the responsibility of each member to safeguard their issued firearm, following the preventive measures established by the department.
“Unfortunately, instances of firearm loss due to member negligence do occur, but every loss is thoroughly investigated regardless of the circumstances.”
SAPS has implemented several measures to reduce firearm losses, including providing members with safes and retention cords.
EFF MP Sinawo Thambo said the 741 lost or stolen firearms meant that SAPS fought crime against its own weapons. “It is discouraging.
“What are you doing about that? Are SAPS members being investigated, punished and held accountable?” Thambo asked.
He said losing a firearm should be difficult, and warned the police top brass not to adopt a culture where members were protected in instances of corruption.
“I am curious. Is it really loss or theft? Is there a black market where firearms of the police service are sold and undercut the fight against crime?” Thambo said.
MK Party chief whip Mzwanele Manyi said: How do police lose firearms?
How is it possible? Why do we even have a discussion like this?”
He said police officers should be held to the same standards when firearms licences were issued.
“I think it is a disaster. It is disgraceful for police to lose firearms. I want to know the circumstances of the firearms getting lost,” said Manyi.
DA MP Diana Kohler-Barnard also raised her concerns about the loss and theft of the firearms, saying the losses were more or less boosting illegal trade, heading straight to the hands of criminals.
National police Commissioner Fannie Masemola conceded that it was regrettable that there were lost or stolen firearms.
“Some of these firearms members lose find their way into the criminal world. We are aware of that,” he said.
Masemola said they had ordered a fast-tracking of the process to get technology that could assist in tracing the firearms.
He confirmed that some officers were killed and robbed of their firearms.
Masemola listed instances of break ins at their houses. “It looks like we lose firearms willy-nilly.
“Some are firearms that are robbed. Those who lose firearms negligently face consequences or pay hefty fines depending on how the firearm was lost.”
The report showed that a substantial number of firearms remained unaccounted for.
“A total number of 246 identifiable stolen/lost SAPS-owned firearms were recovered, which is four more than the anticipated annual target of 242.”
Cape Times