Sixteen people, including high-ranking police officials were arrested for fraud and corruption relating to contraventions of the Central Firearm Registry.
Police received information on the alleged fraud and corruption relating to firearm license applications in Gauteng and Cape Town in 2017. It was later found that several individuals obtained their competency certificates and firearm licenses wrongfully.
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According to South African Police Service (SAPS) national spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo, the majority of the applications made in Gauteng were done at the Edenvale, Norwood and Kempton Park police stations. Investigations did however not rule out the possible involvement of other stations.
“The investigations started to reveal, among others, that residential addresses were falsified and/or misrepresented on the applications, information regarding the status of applicants were not revealed and mandatory checks by police Designated Firearm Officers (DFOs) were not conducted,” he said.
Applications were also found to not have been signed by the applicants and the testimonials given by character witnesses were also not signed.
“The same applications were then recommended by the DFOs and were forwarded to members of the Provincial FLASH (Firearms, Liquor and Second-Hand Goods Control) and eventually Central Firearm Registry where they would be approved.”
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Following the three-year-long investigation led by the National Anti-Gang Unit in the Western Cape under the leadership of Major General Andre Lincoln, J50 warrants were issued for the arrest of at least 21 suspects.
According to the statement released by Naidoo the 16 arrests included a member of Edenvale Police Station.
These accused and the five outstanding suspects, if arrested, will appear in the South Gauteng High Court on July 10.
According to National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole, the group is systematically identifying and rooting out corruption, which includes corrupt SAPS members.
