Cele to visit cops shot in robbery

Cele to visit cops shot in robbery
2011-09-28 11:53


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Mthatha - National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele was expected to visit the six policemen who were critically wounded during a shoot-out with robbers at a grocery store in Bizana in the Eastern Cape on Wednesday, said police.

"The general will fly to the Eastern Cape shortly and make his way to St Patrick Hospital and then to the Shoprite in Bizana," said spokesperson Colonel Vish Naidoo.

Naidoo could not confirm the conditions of the policemen or whether anyone had been killed.

The shooting took place on Tuesday. Several people caught in the crossfire were injured by stray bullets, the SABC reported earlier.

"I am getting conflicting information at the moment and therefore do not want to comment yet," said Naidoo on Wednesday morning.

Police received a tip-off on Tuesday that the local Shoprite in Bizana was being robbed. When the officers arrived, a gang carrying AK-47s, opened fire.

A hunt had begun for the robbers.



- SAPA

Read more on: police | bheki cele | east london | crime


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SAPS lost 1,335 firearms in 2010/2011 - Nathi Mthethwa
Nathi Mthethwa
09 September 2011


167 firearms recovered, new measures put in place to stem the problem


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:

LOSS/RECOVERY
FIREARM TYPE CATEGORY
2010/11

LOSS
HANDGUN
1188


OTHER



RIFLE
101


SHOTGUN
46

LOSS Total

1335

RECOVERY
HANDGUN
133


RIFLE
18


SHOTGUN
16

RECOVERY Total
167


(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