Illegal firearm recovery improved by 372%

Interventions under the Western Cape Government’s Safety Plan have improved the recovery rate of illegal firearms by 372%. Before these interventions (February 2020 – June 2021), less than 4 illegal firearms were recovered per month, whilst after interventions, on average 17 illegal firearms are being recovered per month. This data shows us that our safety efforts work, and that when we have collaboration with all policing agencies – including SAPS – we can achieve much more in our efforts to keep communities safe.

This information was revealed at today’s Standing Committee meeting on Community Safety at Provincial Parliament. We also note the Department of Community Safety’s interventions rely on building capacity through various programmes to clamp down on the drivers of violent crimes as identified in the province. This includes illegal weapons, drugs and alcohol.

MPP Reagen Allen comments: “In clamping down on illegal firearms, we can prevent these weapons from landing in the hands of criminals. That means we avoid the massive repercussions for safety in communities. Statics by the provincial government show that 62% of homicide deaths in the province are related to shootings and that 45% of those occur in priority crime areas.

The Western Cape is undertaking a data-and-evidence led approach for its interventions, and that’s why we are seeing positive indicators for safety of residents. Our hope is that SAPS at a national level would mirror this approach by also allocating resources to the areas of the province where it matters, and granting the Western Cape the police resources it needs based on the demands we face.

We must also bear in mind that safety service delivery remains the primary role of the South African Police Service. And so, interventions under the provincial Safety Plan must be understood as additional measures to promote safety in communities. This is especially the case in the uncovering of several ongoing inefficiencies within SAPS from a national management perspective.”

We welcome the progress made under the Western Cape Government’s Safety Plan and will continue to use our oversight role at provincial parliament to ensure that these intervention remain beyond reproach and constitute better safety responses for all.

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