The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that 80 police-issued firearms were reported lost between January 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. These figures, which exclude stolen weapons, raise serious concerns about firearm control and security within law enforcement.

According to official reports, multiple police stations across various provinces recorded firearm losses under different circumstances. Incidents included firearms lost during official duties, theft from state and private vehicles, housebreakings, and cases where weapons went missing from police officers. The provinces with the highest reported losses include Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape, with significant numbers of incidents occurring in urban centers such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban.

One of the more concerning trends is the loss of weapons due to housebreakings, with multiple cases in Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga. Additionally, reports indicate that firearms were also lost during the execution of official duties, suggesting procedural weaknesses in weapon handling and storage.

The data further reveals that SAPS personnel primarily lost 9mm Parabellum pistols, including Beretta and Vektor Z 88 models, which are standard issue for officers. However, in one case, a Vektor R5 rifle was reported lost in KwaZulu-Natal, raising additional concerns about the security of high-powered weapons.

The revelation of these losses comes amid ongoing concerns about illegal firearms fueling violent crime in South Africa. Lost police-issued firearms can easily end up in criminal hands, exacerbating problems such as gang violence, armed robberies, and organized crime activities.

Despite SAPS efforts to tighten firearm control measures, the frequent loss of weapons points to gaps in accountability, tracking, and enforcement of firearm management protocols. The issue of firearms lost under unclear circumstances further highlights the need for stricter oversight and improved internal controls within SAPS.

The losses add to growing pressure on law enforcement leadership to ensure greater accountability in firearm management and prevent weapons meant for public protection from contributing to criminal activity.