According to Action Society spokesperson Ian Cameron, between 2005 and 2017, 26 025 firearms that were issued to police officers were stolen or could simply not be accounted for.
“In my opinion, the state is the largest smuggler and supplier of firearms to criminals. How many times have police-issue Z88s and R5s been confiscated from Cape gangs?” asked Cameron.
The police confirmed that Norwood station commander Colonel Phetole Mashaba had resigned last Friday.
Some of the 158 weapons that were missing – including R5, R1 and AK-47 rifles – were handed in by members of the public during an earlier amnesty period. Cameron said the disappearance of the firearms was discovered during an audit by the Falcons.
“The investigation stems from a shooting last year between the police and armed robbers. It was later established that one of the stolen firearms was used in the shooting that led to the death of a member of the police.”
Cameron alleged that 112 assault rifles, handguns, commercial explosives and detonators had been seized at a Ukrainian couple’s home in Norwood in 2014. These weapons had been handed in to the police station to be destroyed.
https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/26-025-police-guns-stolen-or-missing-20220123
