The DA calls on the Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, to ensure the 2031 SAPS members in Gauteng without firearm compliance certificates, undergo competency testing. We would also like to know from the MEC when all members of the SAPS in Gauteng will be fit to carry fire arms?
According to the MEC’s response to a DA question in the Gauteng Legislature, there are currently 2031 SAPS members patrolling Gauteng’s streets without firearm compliance certificates.
Of the 2031 members that are active without a firearm compliance certificate, 627 officers are stationed in Tshwane. Ekurhuleni has 351, and Johannesburg has 196. The worst affected stations are Evaton with 45 and Sebokeng with 49 uncertified members. This means that these members should not be deployed outside the confines of the station as the risk and liability are enormous.
Since April this year, 14 members without valid compliance certificates discharged their firearms and I will be asking further questions of the MEC to establish the circumstances in which this occurred.
These members are not only a danger to themselves, but to the public whom they are sworn to protect.
When it comes to rank, 1034 of these members hold the rank of Captain within the SAPS.
Given the high number of incidents in Gauteng involving police brutality, it is imperative that these officers are taken off the streets and confined to office duty until they have passed their compliance tests.
Having so many police members not able to competently conduct their duties leaves the residents of Gauteng in the precarious position of being badly under-resourced and under-protected.
This is an unacceptable situation that should be urgently remedied.