Police Oversight and Community Safety:
With regard to the introduction of a reward system for the anonymous reporting of the location where illegal firearms can be found:
Whether whistle-blowers will be afforded protection when they provide information on the whereabouts of illegal firearms; if so, what are the relevant details?
When whistle-blowers report an illegal firearm, they’ll be engaging a SAPS officer and the entire report will be handled in the strictest confidence. There are two options available to the whistle-blower; (1) to report the illegal firearm anonymously, particularly if they do not wish to receive the reward upon the successful confiscation of the reported illegal firearm; (2) or details have to be provided, should they wish to receive the reward upon the successful confiscation of the illegal firearm.
The reply of the South African Police Service (SAPS):
Anonymous information received with regard to illegal firearms is treated with the strictest level of confidentiality. Protecting the identity of informers is of utmost importance to ensure their safety.
