Progress Report to the PCoP on

the Establishment of the Illegal

Firearms Specialised Unit

Lt Gen Y Matakata

Acting National Head: Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation

23 August 2017

Scope of the Presentation

Introduction.

Background.

National Strategic Focus Areas: National Bureau for Illegal Firearm Control &

Priority Violent Crime (NBIFPVC).

Interim Capacity.

Operational Performance: NBIFPVC.

National Firearms Strategy/ National Firearms Task Team.

Challenges & Solutions: NBIFPVC.

Conclusion

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Introduction

→The purpose of this briefing is to appraise the Portfolio

Committee on Police (PCoP) regarding the progress achieved

with the Unit, including implementation of the approved

structure for the NBIFCPVC, operational performance and other

key developments such as:

- The National Firearms Task Team (NFTT); and

- The proposed National Firearm Strategy.

→This presentation will be responsive to the concerns raised

during the last briefing on 15 August 2017.

Background

During the State of the Nation Address 2016, the President of

the Republic of South Africa, Honourable Jacob Zuma,

pronounced the establishment of the two specialised units

within the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) to

investigate national priority offences related to drugs and the

proliferation of illegal firearms.

4

National Strategic Focus Areas

→ The NBIFCPVC deals with the proliferation of firearms through an integrated threat

based approach, focusing on criminal groupings/networks involved in the following

focus areas:

‐ Criminal linkages through Forensic practice;

‐ Illegal Firearm Trafficking & Networks;

‐ Criminal Abuse & vulnerability of Firearms in State Control;

‐ Criminality in the Control of legal Firearm Stocks;

‐ Targeted Police Killings; &

‐ Prioritised Violent Crimes, where firearms are used.

→ On 11 August 2017, Lt General Matakata declared the cash in transit (CIT) robberies as

a national priority offence for the DPCI, in response to the escalation in CIT robberies.

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Interim Capacity

National Bureau for Illegal Firearm Control and Priority Violent Crime

Province Capacity

Eastern Cape 25 (6 Officers / 19 Non-commissioned officers – Detectives)

Free State 22 (7 Officers / 25 Non-commissioned officers – Detectives)

Gauteng 64 (19 Officers / 45 Non-commissioned officers – Detectives)

KwaZulu-Natal 40 (12 Officers / 28 Non-commissioned officers – Detectives)

Limpopo 14 (5 Officers / 9 Non-commissioned officers – Detectives)

Mpumalanga 10 (6 Officers / 19 Non-commissioned officers – Detectives)

North West 13 (2 Officers / 11 Non-commissioned officers – Detectives)

Northern Cape 6 (5 Officers / 1 Non-commissioned officer – Detective)

Western Cape 28 (9 Officers / 16 Non-commissioned officers – Detectives / 3

DFO’s)

Total 222

6

An interim capacity has been placed at National and Provincial level.

The capacity of the unit will be optimised to ensure full operationalisation.

National Performance: Since Inception (1

March 2016) to 31 March 2017

Arrests and Firearm Recoveries

Eastern Cape

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

25 223 24 0 163 35

Free State

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

1 497

H/O 2

Total: 1 499

42 881

11

H/O 3

Total: 14

7 68 34

Gauteng

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

14

H/O 105

Total: 119

234

H/O 859

Total 1 093

9

H/O 6

Total: 15

1

H/O 2

Total: 3

21

3

H/O 1

Total: 4

7

National Performance: Since Inception (1

March 2016) to 31 March 2017 (1)

KwaZulu-Natal

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

285

H/O 2

Total: 287

17 307

H/O 15

Total: 17 322

39

H/O 1

Total: 40

1

33

H/O 1

Total: 34

3

Limpopo

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

2 0 2 0 0 0

Mpumalanga

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

12

H/O 1

Total: 13

139 18 0

41

H/O 2

Total: 43

0

H/O 1

Total: 1

8

National Performance: Since Inception (1

March 2016) to 31 March 2017 (2)

Northern Cape

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

0 0 0 0 7 0

North West

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

14

H/O 1

Total: 15

263

H/O 10

Total: 273

15 2

77

H/O 4

Total: 81

1

Western Cape

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

20 53 26 3 27 7

Totals for RSA

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

1 869

H/O 111

TOTAL: 1 980

61 100

H/O 884

Total: 61 984

144

H/O 10

Total: 154

14

H/O 2

Total: 16

437

H/O 7

Total: 444

83

H/O 2

Total: 85

9

National Performance: Since Inception (1

March 2016) to 31 March 2017

Breakdown of Firearm Types

Pistols Revolvers Rifles Shotguns AK 47 AK 47

Replica

R5 /

LM5

R4 /

LM4 R 1 Carbine Other Ass Rifle Total

Eastern Cape

22 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 25

Free State

642 368 394 95 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 499

Gauteng

68 19 5 11 8 2 2 0 0 2 2 119

KwaZulu-Natal

182 29 30 27 6 0 1 1 0 9 2 287

Limpopo

1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2

Mpumalanga

3 0 0 0 4 0 3 2 1 0 0 13

Northern Cape

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

North West

15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15

Western Cape

16 3 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 20

949 419 432 133 19 2 7 3 1 11 4 1980

10

National Performance: Since Inception (1

March 2016) to 31 March 2017

National Bureau for Illegal Firearm Control and Priority Violent Crime

Number of Arrests 598

Convictions 101

Firearms

1980

A breakdown of the firearm types was provided

in the previous slide

Ammunition 61984

11

National Performance: 1 April 2017 to

30 June 2017 (1)

Eastern Cape

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

7 8 0 2 17 12

Free State

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

1 0 2 2 1 1

Gauteng

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

4

54

H/O 87

Total: 141

0

0

H/O 1

Total: 1

4 0

KwaZulu-Natal

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Successes

Arrests Convictions

15 303 21 8 0 11

Limpopo

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions PVC

Successes

Arrests Convictions

2 0 2 0 0 0

12

National Performance: 1 April 2017 to

30 June 2017 (2)

Mpumalanga

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

3 26 8 5 11 8

Northern Cape

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

0 0 0 0 0 0

North West

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

2 140 3 1 0 0

Western Cape

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

0 0 0 0 0 2

Totals for RSA

Firearms

recovered

Ammunition

recovered Arrests Convictions

PVC

Performance

Arrests Convictions

34

531

H/O 87

Total: 618

36

18

H/O 1

Total: 19

33 34

13

National Performance: 1 April 2017 to 30

June 2017

Breakdown of Firearm Types

Pistols Revolvers Rifles Shotguns AK 47 AK 47

Replica

R5 /

LM5

R4 /

LM4 R 1 Carbine Other Ass Rifle Total

Eastern Cape

5 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 7

Free State

1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

Gauteng

1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 5

KwaZulu-Natal

11 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 15

Limpopo

2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

Mpumalanga

3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

Northern Cape

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

North West

2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

Western Cape

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

25 1 2 0 4 0 1 1 0 0 1 35

14

National Performance: 1 April 2017 to

30 June 2017 15

National Bureau for Illegal Firearm Control and Priority Violent Crime

Number of Arrests 69

Convictions 53

Firearms

35

A breakdown of the firearm types was

provided in the previous slide

Ammunition 618

→ The SAPS National Firearms Strategy was developed to specifically reduce the

proliferation of firearms that are contributing to priority violent crimes.

→ During an agreement between the Acting National Commissioner and the Acting

National Head, DPCI , the latter was entrusted with the overall responsibility to take

command and control of the NFTT.

→ The collective oversight of the NFTT will resort under the National Crime Combating

Forum (NCCF).

→ The main purpose of the Draft National Joint Action Plan, is to effectively and

professionally operationalise the NFTT at national and provincial levels.

→ The NFTT will embrace a collaborative approach to optimise cooperation,

coordination and communication between the key stakeholders.

National Firearms Task Team (NFTT)

16

All people in South Africa are and feel safe from firearms related risks and threats

Reduced proliferation of firearms for use and availability in crime and violence in South

Africa

1.

Improved

knowledge and

awareness for the

prevention of

firearm related risk

and threats

2.

Improved Firearm

Control &

Enforcement

3.

Reduced illegal

pool & criminal

use of firearms

4.

Improved

international

cooperation

against firearm

proliferation

National Firearms Strategy: Intended Impact &

Outcomes 17

→Through extensive consultation during the establishment of the NBIFCPVC, recent high

profile cases and the SAPS National Firearms Threat Assessment, the following

operational focus areas were identified and prioritised to more effectively address

illegal firearms that are contributing to a cross-sector of serious crime.

→The engagement process included the DPCI, Crime Intelligence, Forensic Science

Laboratory, Visible Policing, Firearm, Liquor & Second-hand Goods (FLASH),

Management Intervention & Legal Services:

‐ Criminal linkages through forensic practice;

‐ Illegal firearm trafficking networks (includes arms & explosive caches);

‐ Criminal abuse and vulnerability of firearms in state control;

‐ Criminality in the control of legal firearm stocks; &

‐ Emerging firearm related threats.

National Firearms Task Team (NFTT) Priority Focus Areas

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Challenges & Solutions

Challenges Solutions

Delay in Ballistic and DNA reports Engaged Forensic Science Laboratories to

expedite reports in priority cases

Delay tactics

Postponement of cases by the defence or

accused

Changing of defence teams

This subject to the Presiding Officer’s rulings

Interim capacity / Low performance

Members were also utilised / deployed to other

operational focus areas e.g. Political Violence

Task Teams

From 1 October 2017 NBIFCPVC members will be

exclusively utilised to address this mandate

Prioritise projects and major investigations

Lack of intelligence

To engage CI and the broader intelligence

community to gather intelligence specifically on

firearms and priority violent crimes

Porous borders and inadequate capacity which

impacts on illicit trafficking

Enhancement of operational capabilities and

intensifying joint interventions

Corruption and complicity Ongoing investigations to address firearms

related corruption

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Conclusion

→ The DPCI is committed to proper establishment of the

NBIFCPVC to ensure the overall reduction of illegal firearms in

circulation.

→ The NFTT will also be invaluable in effectively addressing the

illegal firearms threat.

→ To reassure the PCoP that their concerns and guidance will be

acted upon.

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