The number of stolen firearms from the South African Police Service (SAPS) has raised concerns about community and societal safety.
The concern rises even higher as recent answers to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Parliamentary questions revealed that over 3 400 SAPS firearms were reported missing or stolen between 2019 and 2024.
STOLEN POLICE FIREARMS AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Recent Parliamentary replies, directed to the DA’s Ian Cameron, revealed that 3 213 firearms were reported stolen from the police.
This is between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2024.
The reply further revealed that police lost 220 firearms and only recovered 559.
The reasoning for the firearm losses ranges from negligence, with 212 firearms lost because of it, to 1 397 stolen through theft and 1 824 taken in robberies.
The DA believes that the unaccounted for firearms are already used in robberies, assaults, and murders across the country.
The party argues that the scale of these losses reflects deep mismanagement in SAPS.
It also notes that this issue plays a vital role in the growing criminal activity within and around police structures.
STOLEN POLICE FIREARMS AND FIREARMS CONTROL AMENDMENT BILL SPARKS ANGER
Despite this, concerns also rose around the Firearms Control Amendment Bill, with the DA claiming that the country cannot afford laws that target responsible gun owners while criminals stay heavily armed.
They argue that the bill unfairly targets law-abiding citizens rather than fixing the collapse of the Central Firearms Register and the lack of internal controls.
Cameron says the bill would give the Police Minister broad powers over who may own a firearm.
He warns that this approach could leave ordinary citizens unable to defend themselves while violent criminals remain armed with stolen police guns.
DA PREPARES FOR A LEGAL SHOWDOWN
The DA says it will fight the bill in Parliament and launch a national campaign to raise awareness.
If needed, the party says it will take the matter to court to protect the right of responsible South Africans.
They also criticised SAPS for refusing to disclose which stations or ranks lose the most firearms.
This secrecy, the DA argues, blocks accountability and prevents effective action to curb further losses.
