Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) brushed off reports that over 700 of its firearms were either missing or stolen, as “sheer speculation”.
The DA’s Mike Waters, MP and Lethabong Constituency head, earlier this week said they had a copy of the long-overdue armoury audit report, which highlighted the gross incompetence of the head of the armoury and the shambolic state of affairs within the armoury.
“It is outrageous that 739 firearms are stolen, missing or simply unaccounted for,” added Waters.
According to EMPD spokesperson, Chief Supt Wilfred Kgasago, the EMPD has submitted an audit progress report to be tabled at the next council meeting.
“With regards to other allegations made against the department in the statement, they are viewed as sheer speculation devoid of facts and thus an accurate picture can only be obtained once the joint auditing process has been finalised with South African Police Service,” said Kgasago.
According to Waters’ statement, some of the shocking findings in the audit report are:
• Out of the 3 525 firearm licences, only 2 518 could be accounted for.
• Three hundred and eighty-two firearms have been reported missing or stolen.
• Three hundred and fifty-seven firearms are unaccounted for.
• Five LM6 rifles were purchased from a supplier, and although the licences were issued, the supplier was liquidated before the rifles could be delivered.
According to the report, Waters said discipline within the EMPD is a huge problem and the following was revealed:
• Various members did not report for the audit. The armoury forwarded the list of names after completion of the audit to different regions and specialised services in an attempt to get members to comply. This instruction was ignored.
• No weekly firearm inspection sheets were forwarded to the armoury.
• Lack of communication to the armoury regarding firearm-related incidents.
• Employees from other CoE departments are not subjected to the same rules as the EMPD officers in terms of inspections and compulsory competency evaluations as stipulated by legislation.
• The current filing system is inadequate and not user-friendly. The armoury is currently implementing a new filing system.
• No control over budgetary processes. No money available for holsters, firearm spares and ammunition when required.
“The questions that have to be asked are, how was the control of the armoury allowed to collapse to such levels and how many of the stolen and missing firearms have been used in crimes against the very people they were meant to protect?
“I will write to the minister of police to request his department to conduct a forensic audit into the CoE armoury division and to bring all those responsible for its collapse to book,” said Waters.
