ISS: Fair research is needed on 'missing' pvt security guns
Consultant Researcher at the Institute of Security Studies, David Bruce, says the report on stolen or lost firearms from private security needs to be studied at a fairer level.
This follows RISE Mzansi’s concern about the high number of lost or stolen firearms reported daily from private securities.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu wrote a reply to Rise Mzansi’s written parliamentary question on firearms, in which he disclosed that during the 2023/24 financial year; 1,648 firearms were reported either lost by or stolen from private security companies.
RISE Mzansi's Parliamentary caucus whip, Makashule Gana warned that this could mean an average of approximately five firearms end up in the hands of criminals every day.
This is an addition to at least two firearms from the South African Police Service (SAPS) that are reported either lost or stolen every day.
Bruce says only a quarter of the total number of private security officers have firearms in their possession as compared to SAPS.
“There is a large number of private security guards in South Africa that are not armed with firearms,” Bruce explained.
“While in a region there is reported to be 500 000 private security guards or active security guards, the number of licensed firearms reported to be held by private security guards is 127, 000.”
Bruce says this report might be on a few security companies; therefore he believes that research must be done to reveal specific private security companies responsible for increasing the rate at which firearms are stolen or lost.
“But the main point is the information provided does not tell us the full picture, the big question is about whether there are specific companies who are the main culprits in this regard, are there specific companies losing firearms at a higher rate than other companies," Bruce said.
“From that point, we must then investigate those companies and find out why they are losing these firearms at this high rate."
Bruce says, as far as these stolen or lost firearms might contribute to the high number of illegal firearms, it must be taken into account that the South African Police Service has a higher number of licensed firearms than private security companies.
ALSO READ
