Correctional Services negligent with firearms

The Minister of Correctional Services, Mr. Sibusiso Ndebele, has confirmed that, in the past three years, 17 pistols (9mm) were stolen and 11 pistols (9mm) were lost at Correctional Services. He answered a written question in Parliament of Mr. Pieter Groenewald of the Freedom Front Plus. According to the reply, the Minister is now asking the regions to exercise stricter control over firearms.

"It is clear that the Department of Correctional Services is negligent with firearms and has poor control over and management of these firearms. That eleven firearms can just go missing is unacceptable and the persons in charge thereof should be criminally charged.

According to the reply there are actually 28 firearms in the hands of criminals and through this Correctional Services is promoting crime. Regions should also not be asked to enforce measures but should be ordered to do so and if it is not done properly, the responsible officials should be punished.

Private citizens are criminally prosecuted if they are negligent with their firearms. The same should apply to officials at Correctional Services," Mr. Pieter Groenewald (MP), the chief spokesperson for the Freedom Front Plus says.

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION NO. 1420

Mr P J Groenewald (FF Plus) to ask the Minister of Correctional Services:†

(1) How many weapons of every (a) kind and (b) calibre have (i) been stolen or (ii) gone missing in her department (aa) in (i) 2009, (ii) 2010 and (iii) 2011 and (bb) since 1 January 2012;

(2) what steps have been taken to combat these thefts and losses;

(3) whether she will make a statement on the matter?  

REPLY:

(1)

(2) Regions were requested to:

• conduct an inspection of all firearms in arsenals and consolidate this with their asset registers;
• re-assess in which posts officials are to be armed with firearms for the execution of their daily tasks;
• ensure and confirm that permits for firearms/ammunition are issued to officials as required by the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act No. 60 of 2000), which state that no official is allowed to be in possession of a departmental firearm or ammunition without an approved permit;
• confirm that Arsenal Controllers:
  • complete relevant Firearm Registers on a daily basis;
  • are in possession of duplicate firearm/ammunition permits;
  • are in possession of updated duty sheets and have acknowledged receipt thereof in writing; and
  •  issue on a daily basis a certificate to the Heads of Correctional Centres certifying that all firearms have been checked;
• ensure that Heads of Correctional Centres confirm that a certificate is issued on a weekly basis to the relevant Area Commissioner certifying that all firearms have been checked;
• ensure that Heads of Correctional Centres/Community Corrections confirm that officials report the loss, theft or destruction of any firearm immediately to the Head of a Correctional Centre/Community Corrections, as well as within 24 hours to the nearest Police Station; and
• comply to the B-Order 2: Safety and Security: Chapter 16 on security equipment as well as to the Logistic Administration Procedure Manual, Chapter 10 on firearms.

Regions were also informed that according to the stipulations in the Firearms Control Act, with regard to the safekeeping of firearms, all steps must be taken to prevent the loss or theft of firearms. Officials must in all cases, without exception, be criminally prosecuted if they did not comply with the stipulations mentioned in Chapter 16, paragraph 8 of the Act.

(3) The Minister of Correctional Services will not make a statement on this matter.

Statement issued by Mr. Pieter Groenewald, FF Plus Chief spokesperson: Correctional Services, July 16 2012

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