Johannesburg - The SAPS confirmed on Wednesday that it is involved in a criminal investigation of the Central Firearm Registry, various police stations and provincial offices and that it anticipated arrests.
This comes after The Star uncovered an investigation by the Hawks of the biggest firearms trader in Africa.
A State witness spoke to The Star alleging that on the instructions of her employer, Dave Sheer Guns, she bribed police officers to fast-track gun licences.
The woman said in affidavits that she paid the head of the firearms registry in Pretoria, Brigadier Mathapelo Miriam Mangwani, cash amounts of R5 000 and R10 000 twice a month for four years.
She said she met the brigadier at shopping malls and petrol stations where she gave her the cash.
Dave Sheer Guns denied all wrongdoing and said the woman had been fired and was involved in a smear campaign.
The police said they had noted the media reports with concern, saying they were from a countrywide investigation by the SAPS visible policing division and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations (the Hawks) of the processes at the Central Firearm Registry.
The SAPS said new applications for firearm licences and renewals were made at police stations and that renewals were finalised at provincial level, while licences and competency certificates were finalised at the Central Firearm Registry in Pretoria.
“As has always been the case, the SAPS does not confirm the name of any individual under investigation until there is sufficient evidence to warrant prosecution.
“Therefore, at this stage, no confirmation of investigations against specific individuals can be provided,” said spokesman Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale.
“Nonetheless, we can confirm there is an ongoing investigation across the gun licence issuance value chain and this investigation is at an advanced stage” he said.
Makgale said over the past year, criminal cases in connection with corruption were instituted against eight employees attached to the firearm, liquor and second-hand goods component of the police at station, provincial and national levels.
One employee has been convicted and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, suspended for 10 years Makgale said.
The police officer was dismissed.
“Court cases against the other seven accused employees, as well as two civilians, are pending,” police said.
The Star