Over 29,000 crime-linked firearms kept in police storage, Commission hears

The Head of the Ballistics Division at the South African Police Service (SAPS), Brigadier Mishak Mkhabela, revealed that more than 29,000 firearms linked to several criminal investigations are currently kept in police storage.

Brigadier Mkhabela made the revelation on Monday during his testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

READ: SAPS ballistics head tells Madlanga Commission his dept critically understaffed

He uncovered that some of the firearms linked to the murder of DJ Sumbody were also linked to 24 other murders, including those of DJ Vintos and Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart.

Mkhabela said the large number of confiscated firearms, both licensed and unlicensed, is clear evidence that South Africa has become a country overrun by criminal activity.

“We are living in a dangerous country. At any given point, I have more than 29,000 firearms, and each of them has killed a victim,”Mkhabela stated.

He added that the Ballistic Division is severely understaffed, which makes it impossible to analyse firearms promptly.

“That is one area that keeps me awake at night. The figures speak for themselves,” he said. “I always say if anyone wants to appreciate the level of crime involving firearms in South Africa, one must just visit my storeroom – where I keep my exhibits.”

Mkhabela has now wrapped up his testimony.