A shocking report to the City of Cape Town Safety and Security Portfolio Committee shows that less than 1% of persons arrested for firearm contraventions are convicted.
“This report highlights a grave and extremely worrying issue,” said Ian Cameron, Action Centre Director of Community Safety. “The management structures of the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority have blood on their hands. It is their failure which causes the deaths of innocent people.”
The Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) in the City of Cape Town processed 674 cases, but only six led to a conviction. In addition, the report showed that the City still awaits feedback from the police in 294 firearm-related cases dating back to October 2021.
“Even with the good work of dedicated cops to get illegal guns off the street, the system is too broken to keep it off the street. The total criminal justice system is a failure,” said Cameron. “This emphasises the exact reason why the devolution of Western Cape Police must take place.”
