Carlo Petersen
THE provincial government has released a report highlighting “a major gun problem” in the Western Cape.
The report by the provincial Department of Community Safety, titled “The Effect of Firearm Legislation on Crime in the Western Cape”, comes as police are busy exposing a syndicate which has been selling numerous guns to gangsters in the province.
The latest person arrested, Alan Raves, 50, appeared in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Friday facing 34 charges relating to firearms and racketeering for allegedly selling guns to gang members.
He was released on bail of R20 000.
Community Safety MEC Dan Plato said the report was to “help SAPS to right what is wrong”.
The report highlights concerns about insufficient systems of record-keeping, allegations of police corruption at senior level and a commission of inquiry in 2013 regarding the alleged corrupt issuing of gun licences by SAPS officials.
“In 2015, charges were brought against several members, including senior members of SAPS who allegedly issued firearm licenses to gangsters and drug dealers.
“It was alleged firearms and ammunition from a police unit in Gauteng, some of which were allegedly destroyed by SAPS, found their way into the hands of Western Cape gangsters,” Plato said.
The report sheds light on the Central Firearm Registry (CFR), which is managed by the SAPS’s Firearm, Liquor and Second Hand Goods Control Division (Flash Division).
Plato said concerns had been raised regarding the CFR computer system, which was perceived not to be running adequately.
“Although a company was appointed in 2003 to develop an IT system to create an electronic central firearms database to enable the CFR to track firearms and identify the ownership and history of a firearm, this process has not been completed.
“SAPS acknowledged a number of difficulties with the system last year and various stakeholders raised concerns, including allegations of police corruption at senior levels and convictions of Flash police officials,” Plato said.
Raves was arrested in Vereeniging on Wednesday last week and follows that of former police colonel Christiaan Prinsloo, 55, who was also arrested in Vereeniging.
Prinsloo faces similar charges after allegedly selling or giving guns meant for destruction to gangsters.
The men are expected to share the dock when they appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court again next month.
During court proceedings it was alleged that Raves and Prinsloo had forged a corrupt relationship using police resources in 2007.
The State is set to prove that the duo had sold firearms that were meant for destruction to gangsters.
Provincial deputy commissioner Jeremy Vearey said he would be respond to the report after reviewing it this week.
Vearey would not share any information related to the ongoing investigations.