Summon Police Minister to Parliament to explain 27 000 cops failing firearm test

More than 27 000 members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) are not fit to carry or fire a gun. This is according to a draft performance audit report by the SAPS published in the Sunday Times today.

I will be writing to the Chairperson of Parliament's Police Committee requesting that the Minister of Police Nathi Mthethwa and Acting Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi be summoned to explain themselves.

The Minister must tell us whether the findings of the report are true, how long he has known about this report, what he intends to do to address this situation and who will be held accountable for this flagrant breaking of the law.

Acting Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi must explain why he, as Chief Accounting Officer of the SAPS, claims to not have seen or heard of the report dated 14 December 2011.

Despite failing the firearms proficiency test, many officers continue to carry official service weapons. This poses a clear and present danger to the citizens they are mandated to protect. 

South Africa demands a police service that is competent, professional and efficient in combatting the scourge of serious and violent crime across the country. 

SAPS members should not be endangering the lives of others and adding to the problem by carrying guns when they are clearly not fit to do so.

Both the Minister and the Acting National Police Commissioner must account to Parliament and outline the action they will be taking to ensure that the SAPS does not violate its own constitutional responsibility to protect and secure South Africa citizens.

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, March 4 2012

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter