Tebogo Msimanga |
The police lost more than 8 000 police firearms and almost 900 private firearms in the past decade. Police Minister Bheki Cele announced these shocking statistics in the National Council of Provinces. Only 33% of the stolen firearms have been found. He also admitted that only 35 people were prosecuted, and only five were found guilty of related firearm theft. In 46% of these cases, the police were involved.
“This explains why the South African Police Service cannot win the fight against crime; they have to fight against themselves,” said Ian Cameron, director of community safety at Action Society.
Cameron added by saying one should compare the rise in crime to the number of stolen firearms and where they go missing, and it is clear as daylight that “criminals in South Africa get their guns from the police”.
He said the SAPS is in a crisis, and it filters down from top management. “We need drastic changes to make South Africa safe from crime.”
