SUBJECT : 38 ASSAULT RIFLES STOLEN OR LOST IN THE PAST THREE YEARS
The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, has confirmed in writing that 50 firearms, which includes a machine gun, and one grenade launcher have been stolen from or have been lost by the Defence Force in the past three years (since 2009). This follows in response to a question posed by Mr. Pieter Groenewald (MP) of the Freedom Front Plus in Parliament.
"What is the most worrying is that 38 of the 50 firearms are automatic assault rifles such as R5, R4 and R1 firearms and one RPK 7,62 mm machine gun. In only two months (Apr -May) of this year 9 automatic assault rifles were stolen or lost (3xR4 and 6xR5). Six R5 assault rifles have disappeared from the Air Force. It is precisely this type of weapon which is used in transit heists but is now also being used in robberies at shopping malls and even in farm attacks," Mr. Pieter Groenewald (MP), chief spokesperson on Defence for the Freedom Front Plus said.
"What is further worrying is that the precautionary measures in place, are the same measures the minister stated to be in place in her reply in 2010 to a similar question I posed. That means that there is poor management and poor discipline in the control of firearms in the SANDF. The only thing that is new is that the weapons have been bar-coded with Dot-Peen machines to show that the firearms belong to the Defence Force. The Minister has to state whether disciplinary steps will be instituted against the members who were in charge of the firearms. The current system promotes crime because this type of weapon cannot be owned by members of the public and can only be obtained from the Defence Force or the Police. I will definitely be asking follow-up questions in Parliament of the Minister about disciplinary steps," Groenewald said.
According to the reply of the Minister, seven pistols, 11 x R5 (5,56mm), 21 x R4 (5,56mm), 2 x R1 (7,62mm) and 1 x RPK 7,62mm machine gun, 1 x 40mm grenade launcher and various other firearms have been stolen or lost, since 2009.
Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans:†