Massive loss in firearms from South African Police Stations

After an enormous 30% rise in South African Police Service (SAPS) firearms losses between 2007 and 2008, parliament's portfolio committee on police has heard early figures for 2009 that suggest that the outlook has deteriorated further still.

The committee heard that 2,944 SAPS firearms had been lost or stolen by the end of September this year - equal to approximately three firearms lost or stolen from each station in the country.

This figure also suggests that we will see a massive rise in lost or stolen firearms in 2008/09, considering that 2,507 were lost in 2008. This in turn constituted a 30.4% year on year rise, since 1 923 weapons were lost in 2007.

This dire state of affairs is completely unacceptable. Members of the public are finding it extremely difficult to obtain firearm licences, and are expected to comply with strict firearm legislation, whilst it appears that the SAPS officials and stations are losing their firearms in droves. How is it even possible to lose a firearm? There should be serious consequences for lost or stolen SAPS firearms as these could easily fall into the wrong hands, further exacerbating crime.

Earlier this year the DA also obtained information that revealed that the number of officers leaving the Police Service who have failed to hand in service weapons has increased significantly over the past two years. In 2006, just seven officers failed to hand in their service weapons; in 2007 that number had increased to 40; last year it rose again to 65.

The SAPS also admitted that while they recovered 106% of lost civilian firearms (being all those lost in the past year, plus 6% of those lost in previous years) while only recovering 15% of lost SAPS firearms. This makes a lie of President Zuma's claim that the country is awash with both civilian and police firearms.  It is the lost Police weapons that are in the hands of South Africa's criminals.

All this points to a decided lack of control over firearms. This is a matter that must urgently be placed on the agenda so that rectifying measures can be made. I will be writing to the Minister of Police in this regard.

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard, Democratic Alliance shadow minister of police, October 22 2009

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