Sixteen people, including high-ranking police officials and alleged underworld kingpins, have been arrested for fraud and corruption relating to contraventions within 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 uncovered that several individuals obtained their competency certificates and firearm licenses wrongfully.
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.”
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.
Together with the Gauteng Provincial Investigation Unit, General Lincoln’s team have made 16 arrests thus far (according to the statement released by Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo):
- Brigadier Hlamalane Lettie Matshene, Pretoria (arrested 10/06/2020)
- Lieutenant Colonel Moshato Alfred Moloto, Pretoria (arrested 10/06/2020)
- Lieutenant Colonel Lawrence Sehati Semono, Pretoria (arrested 10/06/2020)
- Lieutenant Colonel Nonhlanhla Gladys Skosana, Kempton Park (arrested 10/06/2020)
- Captain Khulekani Samuel Mncube, Pretoria (arrested 10/06/2020)
- Sergeant Koena Welheminah Nkoana, Norwood (arrested 10/06/2020)
- Sergeant Lesiba Rodney Masoga, Norwood (arrested 16/06/2020)
- Sergeant Matseleng Emily Mokwena, Edenvale (arrested 11/06/2020)
- Ex-Colonel Selo Solomon Motau, formerly from Pretoria (arrested 10/06/2020)
- Ex-Constable MB Chokoe, Kempton Park (arrested 10/06/2020)
- Abdullah Mehtar (Acapulco Sports and Guns owner) (arrested 14/06/2020)
- Mahomed Riaz Moosa (Acapulco Sports and Guns owner) (arrested 14/06/2020)
- Yaaseen Modack (applicant) (arrested 05/06/2020)
- Nafiz Modack (applicant) (arrested 16/06/2020)
- Abdulaliem Ismail (applicant) (arrested 05/06/2020)
- Anwa Gallie (applicant) (arrested 16/06/2020).
These accused and the five outstanding suspects, if arrested, will appear in the South Gauteng High Court on 10 July.
According to National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole, the group is systematically identifying and rooting out corruption, which includes corrupt SAPS members.”The most effective way of dealing with corruption is to prevent it and in order to do this, I am urging both members of the SAPS as well as the community at large to refrain from engaging in such activities ? because you will be caught,” concluded General Sitole.
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