The city’s Safety and Security head, JP Smith said they were concerned about apparent delays in the destruction of illegal firearms confiscated by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
He called for those guns to be disposed of in the Western Cape, as moving them to a central location is risky.
“The destruction of firearms is a centralised process which the local South African police have no control over, as these weapons have to be transported to Pretoria. This increases the risk of firearms going missing in transit or maybe illegally sold or placed in the hands of criminals which many of these firearms were ceased from as we know it’s previously happening.”
According to the Western Cape Police Oversight Department, more than 700 firearms were confiscated in the first quarter of this year.
But the city said they were still intact.
However, police spokesperson, Andre Traut said destroying confiscated firearms was not a process that happens overnight.
“Once the police investigation and due processes which can also include a court procedure have been concluded, a confiscated firearm is forfeited to the state. It is only then that the firearm can be destroyed. In terms of the Firearms Controls Act, this process must be finalized within six months of the forfeit date.”
In 2016, former police colonel, Chris Prinsloo, was sentenced to 18 years behind bars for stealing and selling guns meant for destruction, to gangsters in the province.
-EWN
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