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- The alleged theft of 15 guns and eight imitation firearms from the Mitchell’s Plain Police Station’s SAP-13 storeroom has angered the community, who are calling on heads to roll over the lack of communication around the incident.
- Following a media report about the theft earlier this month, the exhibits used in crime in the precinct were discovered in November last year, with the theft spanning around six months.
- An arrest has since been made of a 30-year-old constable in connection with the case. He is set to appear in court later this week on related charges.
The alleged theft of 15 guns and eight imitation firearms from the Mitchell’s Plain Police Station’s SAP-13 storeroom has angered the community, who are calling on heads to roll over the lack of communication around the incident.
Following a media report about the theft earlier this month, the exhibits used in crime in the precinct were discovered in November last year, with the theft spanning around six months.
None of these firearms have since been recovered. This is the second instance of firearm theft, following the 2017 incident where 14 firearms were stolen.
An arrest has since been made of a 30-year-old constable in connection with the case. He is set to appear in court later this week on related charges.
On Thursday 25 January, a group of irate community workers and residents joined a protest to voice their dissatisfaction around the alleged theft.
Organised by the Cape Flats Safety Forum, the protest saw a large group gather outside the station from 10:00 to noon.
Abie Isaacs, forum chair, says they are “furious” at the lack of communication from the station around the matter which has subsequently resulted in an arrest.
“We are demanding this station be placed under administration with immediate effect,” he says. This is the second instance of alleged gun theft from the station, with the last reported instance in 2017.
Issacs says less than 50% of these firearms have been recovered.
The guns are a means for more bloodshed on the cape flats, he continues. As a neighbourhood watch member in Tafelsig, Jayden Gabriels says this incident breeds a lack of trust in police.
“I am a young person fighting crime and I am just not happy with what is currently happening at Mitchell’s Plain Police Station. I am giving information to the police as a neighbourhood watch member and I cannot trust them anymore. Any information can be leaked out to gangsters,” he says.
Wearing a gun-free South Africa T-shirt, Gabriels joined the protest along with several other neighbourhood watch members.
Another member of an Eastridge neighbourhood watch, Deidre Petersen was visibly frustrated at this recent incident.
“What is done is unjust to the community of Mitchell’s Plain. Police sold us out. There was a write-up of six months where these guns went missing. Every quarter, they are supposed to have an audit,” she says. “How come no one informed the partnership? We are partners, so why don’t we know about it? Why doesn’t the community know about it? How many more young people are going to die in people are going to die in Mitchell’s Plain?
People are dying because of these missing guns. We want those guns (found).”
Isaacs says there needs to be a special probe around the loss of firearms from all stations.
“Daily we hear and see the blood of innocent people flowing in the street, being killed with a firearm,” he says.
Another major concern among the protestors was the lack of communication around the theft, having found out in the media, rather than from officials.
Isaacs says the forum is calling for the suspension of the management of the station during the investigation and for the community policing forum to step down in the interest of the community.
“There are monthly engagements with the station management, where these things need to be raised,” he says.
While accused of – among other things - covering up for police around the theft, Norman Jantjes, Community Policing Forum Chair expressed his “disgust” around the incident. He says they called an urgent meeting with station management following the reports where they were advised of the theft. He says the CPF did not know about the incident before the published media report.
“The Mitchell’s Plain CPF wishes to report that the issue of the missing firearms and other exhibits was only shared with the CPF after we requested an urgent meeting with police Management,” he says. “We want to once again stress our disgust and shock at this occurrence and by police not sharing the information with the CPF. We expect a thorough investigation, to ensure that justice prevails.”
This meeting took place on Friday 19 January.
According to Jantjes exhibits- including the firearms and ammunition - were booked out by investigating officers to be taken to forensics for analysis.
“These exhibits, however, did not arrive at the Police laboratory. This theft was only discovered in late in November, after which an immediate investigation by the anti-corruption unit was launched. This investigation is still ongoing, and we expect heads to roll,” says Jantjes.
“These exhibits are linked to serious/gang-related crimes. The missing exhibits might lead to criminals getting off the hook and thereby continuing with their criminal behaviour and continuing to traumatise the community. This theft will also impact community police relations and the community’s trust in the police.”
Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen says the matter is deeply concerning.
“This alleged breach is highly unacceptable and I am deeply angered to learn through the media about this matter. I have written to the police Provincial Commissioner to obtain details of this incident,” he says.
Brig Jan Alexander, station commander at Mitchell’s Plain says the matter is under investigation and would not comment at this stage.
Allen says it is vital that it be established where these alleged stolen firearms are and that they immediately be retrieved.
“Should it also be found that any of these firearms have been used to commit a crime, the one responsible for its loss and or sale should also be charged to this effect. This is yet another opportunity for the public to inform us where these and any other illegal firearm are stored, as they can be rewarded with up to R5 000.”
Call 0214660011 and provide the information. The reward will be paid on the successful confiscation, arrest and conviction.
