36/1/4/1/201100104

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO 1384
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 27 MAY 2011
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 13- 2011)

Date reply submitted: 06 September 2011

1384. Ms D Kohler-Barnard (DA) to ask the Minister of Police:

(1) (a) How many police firearms have been (i) lost and (ii) stolen in total in the past five financial years, (b) what is the breakdown of this number in terms of (i) handguns, (ii) shotguns and (iii) rifles and (c) how many of these firearms were (i) semi- and (ii) fully automatic;

(2) whether any of these firearms have been recovered; if so, for each specified category, (a) how many firearms have been recovered and (b) what was the average time frame for the recovery of the firearms?

NW1551E

REPLY:

(1)&(2)The following losses and recoveries were reported on the Provisioning Administration System (PAS) which is used as the Asset Register for all SAPS Firearms:

(Other category include parts of firearms i.e. barrels which is not a complete firearm but deemed to be a firearm in terms of the Firearms Control Act)

With reference to you question, I have in previous years supplied Parliament with the figures for weapons lost during those financial years and refer you to my answer to these questions. The figures for the period prior to 2010/11 are also available in SAPS annual reports

As from 1 September 2010, a policy decision was taken by the Divisional Commissioner Supply Chain Management to only use information from the official system, the PAS. The Divisional Commissioner has also communicated that data integrity is an issue but has since made progress in enhancing the area especially in the area of SAPS firearms.

The classification in terms of lost or stolen of firearms is based on the Loss Management System. All losses recorded on the asset register are programmatically reported to the Loss Management System. However the classification - lost or stolen - still provides the SAPS with data integrity issues. Systems amendments are currently underway to avoid this issue and a project will be implemented when the system amendment is activated to correct the outstanding information with regard to the area of not yet classified.

In addition I wish to draw your attention to the fact that the department has over the last 18 months been putting in place measures to reduce the number of weapons stole or lost by SAPS members which include:

• IBIS testing of all weapons
• Stricter controls on reporting and checking of weapons
• Improving sanctions procedures and processes in instances where SAPS officials loose weapons

Reply to question 1384 approved by the Minister.

Issued by Parliament, Septmber 9 2011

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