Johannesburg - Questions are being raised about the head of the Central Firearm Registry’s fitness to hold office over allegations that he is very temperamental, aggressive and prone to violent outbursts.
Some of the people who have had unpleasant encounters with Brigadier Lucky Mabule have alleged many applicants get denied firearm licences when it is found that they can't control their temper.
Therefore, it was surprising that Mabule was tasked with the job of determining who gets a firearm licence when he himself can't handle his temper and is aggressive, they claimed.
In the latest incident, he allegedly assaulted a Police and Prison Civil Rights' Union shop steward Frans Chaane, and locked him and his colleagues in his office on February 9.
Chaane and another shop steward, Malose Seanego, had gone to Mabule’s office to support a Popcru employee, Herman Motshekgoa, whose computer he (Mabule) had allegedly taken.
Seanego said Mabule had told him and Chaane to leave the office but they refused. Mabule allegedly grabbed Chaane, threw him against the cupboards, the wall and on the floor, and then grabbed him by the leg and kept throwing him against the cupboards and the walls.
“I am talking about a man who was in full police uniform, assaulting someone in his office,” said Seanego.
“Other police officers were running out of their offices screaming in fear. After that he locked us in the office and left.
“We were only let out after I called the acting national police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane, and he intervened. Mabule is dangerous, he would have killed us if he had a gun on him.”
A case of assault was opened at the Pretoria Central police station. In September last year, Mabule’s colleague, Colonel Sello Motau, also opened an assault case against him.
Motau said he had tendered an apology for a meeting he would be unable to attend. Mabule was apparently not happy about that and called him to his office.
“He came around the table to where I was seated and came so close to me that I had to lean back in my chair. He pointed his finger at me and said: You need to get this in your head; there are no two bulls in this kraal, you will do as I say. He was very aggressive and even stepped on my feet,” Motau said.
Motau said he reported the matter to Mabule’s general and later opened an assault and intimidation case.
Firearm expert Martin Hood wrote a formal complaint to the police brass detailing the “aggressive” manner in which Mabule had acted towards him, leaving him fearing for his safety.
Hood had called Mabule “foolish” in a heated discussion during a meeting. In the complaint, which The Star has seen, Hood said he immediately apologised but was surprised when, after the meeting, Mabule approached him and threatened him.
“He stated this is not over yet” and had to be physically removed from me by Tebogo Kwape because he saw the aggressive attitude of Mabule.”
Abios Khoele, chairman of the Black Gun Owners Association, said there will be a time when they'll be scared of going to meetings with Mabule because “he is aggressive and usually resorts to violence”.
The Star wanted to get comment from Mabule, but police spokesman Vish Naidoo said he was not at liberty to disclose any information about Mabule.
@Mizzyb1
The Star