WC police dismiss CoCT claims that conviction rate for illegal firearms is unacceptably low

CAPE TOWN - Western Cape police have dismissed claims by the City of Cape Town that the conviction rate for illegal firearms in the metro is unacceptably low.

Cape Town Safety and Security MMC JP Smith says from January 2021 to date, city law enforcement officers have taken 1,700 illegal firearms off the street.

Smith further claims that only 5% of those arrested for those guns get convicted, and that most guns do end up back on the streets.

"You have to get convictions; you have to take the people who are shooting those guns out of circulation and get them convicted, not put them back on the street again every time. Because they will just find another gun, there's an endless supply of guns which we often raise as a major concern with SAPS [South African Police Service], there's a bottomless supply of guns and ammunition that make it onto our streets."

However, Western Cape police spokesperson Andre Traut says Smith's claims are misleading.

Traut says their analysis of conviction records paints a far more accurate and encouraging picture.

"Our detectives have consistently achieved strong conviction rates of between 86% and 89% for the financial years since 2021, ending in 2024. These results reflect the dedicated efforts of the investigators, prosecutors, and the broader criminal justice system to hold offenders accountable and enhance public safety."