Cape Forum demands answers about stolen firearms at Mitchells Plain police station
The civil rights organisation Cape Forum and several other local community leaders, activists, and civil rights organisations gathered in front of the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Mitchells Plain police station on Friday (26 January) to protest against the terrifying wave of firearms theft from this police station.
It came to light last week that 15 firearms, as well as eight imitation weapons, were stolen from this station’s exhibit store room (known as the SAPS 13 store). This incident was already recorded in November 2023 and allegedly took place over a period of six months.
The theft of firearms from police stations is an increasing problem. The Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, recently announced that 357 firearms have been stolen from SAPS 13 stores nationwide in the past four years.
In August 2017, a special investigation was launched by the Hawks after it became known that 15 firearms were stolen from the SAPS 13 store at the Mitchells Plain station and 18 from the Bellville South station’s SAPS 13 store.
During Friday’s protest action, the Cape Flats Safety Forum (CFSF) handed over a memorandum to the SAPS demanding answers about the latest wave of thefts. Cape Forum supports this initiative.
“It is clear that the SAPS’ national structures do not have the capacity to curb or manage this problem. Cele’s promises that the theft of firearms from SAPS 13 stores will be tackled is just another one of his empty promises. The current centralist system by which the SAPS is governed is an absolute failure, and therefore a stronger federal structure that achieves direct and effective action is now the only viable option for the police service in the Western Cape,” says Bernard Pieters, manager of Community Activation at Cape Forum.
Cape Forum campaigns for the devolution of policing power to community level and will therefore also exert sustained pressure on corrupt police members who jeopardise the safety of communities. Sign the Cape Forum petition here https://kaapseforum.co.za/afwenteling-van-polisieringsmagte/ to show your support for a more accountable and effective police service.
Get involved today and help make a difference. Send an email to info@kaapseforum.co.za or join www.kaapseforum.co.za.
