Community Safety
Question by:
Hon Reagen Allen
Answered by:
Hon Albert Fritz
Question Number:
12
Question Body:
With reference to an article published on 8 March 2021 on IOL News titled: “JP Smith says persistence of illegal firearms in Cape Town is ‘hugely problematic’”:
- Whether an investigation has been conducted on how a firearm that was listed as having been destroyed was found in the possession of a suspect who ran away when he was approached by law enforcement officers; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
- how many firearms have been found or confiscated in (a) 2015/16, (b) 2016/17, (c) 2017/18, (d) 2018/19, (e) 2019/20 and (f) 2020/21 to date even though they were listed as destroyed by the SAPS in the Western Cape;
- whether any cases were opened against SAPS officials in this regard; if not, why not; if so, (a) how many cases were opened, (b) how many cases were successfully prosecuted and (c) what is the status of each case in these circumstances?
Answer Body:
The South African Police Service informed me as follows:
12. (1) The investigation is still ongoing. The firearm was sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for etching and IBIS testing.
(2) (a) 0
(b) 0
(c) 0
(d) 0
(e) 0
(3) (a) Not applicable.
(b) Not applicable.
(c) Not applicable.
Date:
Friday, March 19, 2021
