Police Oversight and Community Safety
- Whether any plans have been put in place to stop official SAPS firearms from being stolen; if so, what are the relevant details;
- how many firearms stolen from the police have been recovered in 2023
- whether any of the recovered firearms have been connected to criminal activity; if so, what are the relevant details?
(1) Yes, the following initiatives have been implemented:
1.1 Stocktaking and physical inspections of all SAPS owned firearms every semester, in terms of the stocktaking programme;
1.2 Awareness campaigns;
1.3 Disciplinary actions against members where necessary;
1.4 Accountability for the loss or theft is determined and necessary steps applied;
1.5 Monthly firearm inspections by Station Commanders;
1.6 Briefing of members at on-duty and off duty parades;
1.7 Firearm inspections and serviceability determinations by Provincial armourers.
1.8 Issuing of all members with firearm retention cords.
(2) Thirty-one (31) SAPS-owned firearms were recovered from 1 April 2023 to 31 December 2023.
(3) None.
