Hundreds of police guns lost
2012-09-26 22:29
Cape Town - A total of 1 202 police firearms have gone missing since the beginning of last year, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa revealed on Wednesday.
Mthethwa said in a written Parliamentary response that 885 firearms were lost or stolen last year and 317 this year. Of those, 170 had been recovered.
The Democratic Alliance said the large number of lost police firearms was fuelling an illicit trade in weapons.
"This means that the majority of these dangerous weapons are still out there on the street, most likely being used to commit crime," said DA spokesperson Dianne Kohler Barnard.
"The reality is that the SAPS is fuelling the illegal firearms trade in this country."
SAPA
Mthethwa said in a written Parliamentary response that 885 firearms were lost or stolen last year and 317 this year. Of those, 170 had been recovered.
The Democratic Alliance said the large number of lost police firearms was fuelling an illicit trade in weapons.
"This means that the majority of these dangerous weapons are still out there on the street, most likely being used to commit crime," said DA spokesperson Dianne Kohler Barnard.
"The reality is that the SAPS is fuelling the illegal firearms trade in this country."
SAPA
