(MENAFN) South Africa’s acting Police Minister, Firoz Cachalia, has dismissed assertions that 7,500 state-issued firearms from the South African Police Service (SAPS) have been diverted to criminal networks.

This statement followed a parliamentary inquiry from MK Party Member of Parliament, Wesley Douglas.

Douglas had inquired whether Cachalia had commissioned a nationwide audit into SAPS corruption that purportedly resulted in the disappearance of these firearms, and if such an audit had not been ordered, he sought the reasons behind that decision.

Additionally, Douglas requested clarity on whether the Acting Minister would pledge to present a comprehensive report by December 2025.

He also asked for details regarding the audit’s terms of reference, the anticipated date for releasing its findings, and the disciplinary actions management might impose on senior officers found responsible.

In his written response, Cachalia stated that the SAPS “disputes the number of lost firearms lost, as indicated by the Honourable Member, as there is currently no record of the 7 500 state-issued firearms in question.”

He further explained that records from 2019/2020 to the present show that “a total of 4,124 SAPS-owned firearms were reported as lost/stolen.”

Cachalia also mentioned that the National Commissioner had formed a working group tasked with carrying out a comprehensive verification of all SAPS-owned firearms reported lost or stolen since 2019/2020.

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