YOU MAY SHARE THIS PUBLIC DOCUMENT
Each year, an estimated 1,800 state-owned firearms are lost or stolen. This fuels the country's illegal firearms market and increases access to criminal elements. There are currently 2.2 million firearms owned by 502 different state entities
in South Africa, yet the police and the defence force hold less than 30% of these.
Despite the legal obligation for all state institutions to report missing or stolen firearms,
only the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been consistently sharing data.
According to a recent seminar held by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), it pointed out that the
South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and other government departments often fail to disclose losses
to the Central Firearms Registry, even though they are required to do so.
THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE, CONTRIBUTING TO THE CIRCULATION
OF FIREARMS AMONG CRIMINALS.
From 2003 to 2013, a Civilian Secretariat for Police report estimated that around 18,000 firearms went missing,
based on media reports and Central Firearms Registry data. This figure highlights the scale of the problem,
which is further complicated by the rise in firearm-related homicides -
from 23 per day in the 2021/22 financial year to 34 per day more recently.
STATE FIREARM CONCERNS:
The illegal firearms issue is not just a problem of theft.
In 2016, SAPS officers admitted to selling weapons from police custody to gangs and renting their state-issued SAPS weapons out at an hourly rate. Fraudulent firearm licenses issued to criminal figures exacerbate the problem, leading to ongoing legal battles.
Between 2013 and 2023, 63,500 civilian-licensed firearms were reported lost or stolen, with a recovery rate of about 60%. In contrast, the recovery of police-issued firearms is much lower, suggesting that some may not have been lost or stolen but may have been deliberately transferred to criminal hands.
The scale of missing SANDF firearms remains unknown, though reports indicate significant numbers are unaccounted for.
Theft from evidence storage is a vulnerable point for the loss of firearms.
In some cases, firearms submitted as evidence in investigations are not correctly accounted for or secured, making them easy targets for theft.
Corruption and poor inventory management in evidence stores leads to unnoticed disappearance of firearms. This is seen in cases like the 178 missing weapons from the Norwood station.
The missing firearms are often discovered when they are found at crime scenes or traced back to a specific store.
The lack of accurate record-keeping and poor administrative practices results in firearms being misplaced and unaccounted for.
Inadequate tracking, inconsistent record-keeping, and failure to regularly update inventory systems make it difficult to accurately monitor which weapons are in storage, in use, or have been disposed of.
Missing or inaccurate paperwork indicates that some firearms were destroyed, but they may still resurface on the black market.
Corruption and internal misconduct within SAPS have led to officers intentionally diverting weapons for illegal use.
Some officers have been caught renting, selling, or giving firearms to criminals.
Notable examples include cases in which SAPS members provided firearms to gangs in the Western Cape.
Dishonest SAPS members manipulated firearm licenses or illegally issued them to individuals who do not meet the legal requirements.
In some instances, officers have been negligent in handling their firearms.
This includes leaving firearms unattended in vehicles or other public areas, resulting in theft.
Officers who lose their firearms face minimal consequences, which reduces the incentive to handle them with care.
Firearms also go missing during transfers between police stations and when being transported for destruction.
This lack of accountability leads to weapons "disappearing" in transit.
Some police stations and storage facilities lack suitable security measures, such as alarms, reinforced storage rooms, or secure vaults. This makes it easier for break-ins to occur which leads to mass theft of firearms.
Inspections and audits of firearm storage are often inconsistent, allowing vulnerabilities to go unchecked.
During amnesty periods, civilians surrender firearms to the police without facing prosecution.
There have been instances where these surrendered firearms have not been destroyed and have instead ended up in the hands of criminals.
Inadequate supervision during the destruction of firearms potentially allows for some weapons to be diverted to the black market rather than being destroyed.
Organised crime syndicates have infiltrated SAPS networks, using insider information to acquire firearms.
This includes targeting police stations or evidence stores that house large weapons caches.
Criminal networks exploit weak links in the system, paying off corrupt officers or identifying loopholes to acquire state-issued firearms.
These issues underscore the need for stricter inventory controls,
more consistent audits, better security infrastructure, and
accountability measures to prevent the loss of firearms within SAPS.
Addressing corruption, improving record-keeping,
and enforcing penalties for negligence are critical steps in reducing the
illegal circulation of state-owned firearms.
As South Africa grapples with the ongoing issue of illegal firearms, greater accountability, improved crime intelligence, and stricter regulations are needed to curb the cycle of firearm-related violence. Without coordinated action and transparency from all state entities, the challenge of illegal firearms will continue to pose a significant threat to public safety.
ADDITIONAL FACTS:
Firearm legislation:
The primary law governing firearms in South Africa is the Firearms Control Act of 2000.
It aims to regulate firearm ownership and curb illegal firearm use.
Under this act, strict guidelines exist for acquiring, possessing, and using firearms.
Firearm ownership statistics:
South Africa has approximately 2.2 million registered civilian firearms and 2.2 million state-owned firearms.
Civilian ownership of firearms is tightly regulated, with individuals requiring a competency certificate and a firearm license for each weapon.
Firearm-related crime:
Firearms are a significant factor in violent crime in South Africa.
In the 2022/23 financial year, firearm-related homicides accounted for over 40% of all murders.
Police and non-governmental organisations highlight the circulation of illegal firearms as a critical driver of violent crime.
Amnesty periods:
South Africa has periodically declared firearm amnesty periods to allow civilians to surrender illegal or unwanted firearms without facing prosecution.
These periods are part of efforts to reduce the number of illegal firearms in circulation.
Firearm theft hotspots:
Urban areas such as Gauteng, Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal are major hotspots for firearm-related crime.
These regions also have higher rates of firearm theft, both from civilians and state-owned arsenals.
Police recoveries:
Between 2019 and 2022, South African police recovered over 23,000 illegal firearms as part of their ongoing efforts to remove illicit weapons from circulation.
Despite this, the persistent loss and theft of firearms from police custody complicate disarmament efforts.
PUNISHMENTS FOR FIREARM-RELATED OFFENCES:
Possession of illegal firearms:
If found in possession of an unlicensed or illegal firearm, the penalties in South Africa are severe.
The Firearms Control Act stipulates a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm.
This sentence increases if the weapon is linked to other crimes.
Illegal firearm trade:
Selling or renting out illegal firearms is a serious offence.
Those caught trading or distributing illegal weapons face up to 25 years in prison, with additional charges if linked to organized crime or violent acts.
Using a firearm in criminal activities:
The use of an illegal firearm in the commission of a crime—such as armed robbery or murder - can result in a life sentence.
This is particularly true if the weapon was used in a pre-meditated violent crime, reflecting the severity of firearm-related offences in South African law.
Firearm trafficking:
Trafficking firearms, especially if tied to organised crime, is an aggravating factor which leads to harsher penalties.
Convicted traffickers face life imprisonment, especially if the weapons are connected to syndicates or international smuggling rings.
PREVIOUS SSS PROJECTS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE:
RELEVANT NEWS ARTICLES:
Specialised Security Services invites the public to the Mike Bolhuis Daily Projects WhatsApp Group.
This group is important in delivering insights into the latest crime trends, awareness, warnings and the exposure of criminals.
HOW TO JOIN THE MIKE BOLHUIS DAILY PROJECTS WHATSAPP GROUP:
Follow the link to our WhatsApp group:
"JOIN" to ensure you never miss our daily updates.
You will receive automatic notifications as soon as a new project is posted.
CONTACT MR MIKE BOLHUIS FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY MEASURES, PROTECTION, OR AN INVESTIGATION IF NEEDED.
ALL INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL BE TREATED IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENTIALITY AND EVERY IDENTITY WILL BE PROTECTED.
Regards,
Mike Bolhuis
Specialist Investigators into
Serious Violent, Serious Economic Crimes & Serious Cybercrimes
PSIRA Reg. 1590364/421949
Mobile: +27 82 447 6116
E-mail: mike@mikebolhuis.co.za
Fax: 086 585 4924
Follow us on Facebook to view our projects -
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: All potential clients need to be aware that owing to the nature of our work as specialist investigators there are people who have been caught on the wrong side of the law - who are trying to discredit me - Mike Bolhuis and my organisation Specialised Security Services - to get themselves off the hook. This retaliation happens on social media and creates doubt about our integrity and ability. Doubt created on social media platforms is both unwarranted and untrue. We strongly recommend that you make up your minds concerning me and our organisation only after considering all the factual information - to the exclusion of hearsay and assumptions. Furthermore, you are welcome to address your concerns directly with me should you still be unsatisfied with your conclusions. While the internet provides a lot of valuable information, it is also a platform that distributes a lot of false information. The distribution of false information, fake news, slander and hate speech constitutes a crime that can be prosecuted by law. Your own research discretion and discernment are imperative when choosing what and what not to believe.
STANDARD RULES APPLY: Upon appointment, we require a formal mandate with detailed instructions. Please take note that should you not make use of our services – you may not under any circumstance use my name or the name of my organisation as a means to achieve whatever end.
POPI ACT 4 of 2013 South Africa: Mike Bolhuis' "Specialised Security Services" falls under Section 6 of the act. Read more here: https://mikebh.link/fntdpv
SSS TASK TEAM:
Copyright © 2015- PRESENT | Mike Bolhuis Specialised Security Services | All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
Mike Bolhuis Specialised Security Services
PO Box 15075 Lynn East
Pretoria, Gauteng 0039
South Africa
Add us to your address book
THIS PUBLIC DOCUMENT WAS INTENDED TO BE SHARED, PLEASE DO SO.
Comentários