How firearms stolen from police custody pose a risk to the public
Dr Stanley Maphosa, executive director of Gun Free South Africa, addressed the alarming issue of stolen firearms from police custody after firearms were stolen from police premises at the Ulundi K9 Unit in KwaZulu-Natal.
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Gun Free South Africa (GFSA) executive director, Dr Stanley Maphosa, has raised the alarm over the implications of firearms stolen from state custody, following a recent incident at the Ulundi K9 Unit in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Ulundi police are investigating a theft case after suspects broke into the K9 Unit premises. The break-in was discovered Monday morning by an officer who noticed the Logistics Office door open. Initial investigation showed the building’s back door was forced open, and suspects accessed the strong room by forcing open its roof.
Stolen items include one R5 rifle, one shotgun, four pistols, 152 pistol rounds, 290 R5 rounds, 13 handcuffs, three empty R5 magazines, and six empty pistol magazines. Investigations are ongoing, including an internal inquiry into any breach of firearm security protocols or negligence.
GFSA executive director Dr Stanley Maphosa expressed deep concern over the implications of such a breach.
“When guns are stolen from state custody, it represents a serious breach in the firearms control management system and directly increases the risk to the public,” Maphosa said.
He highlighted that publicly available data indicate that illegal guns in South Africa primarily originate from domestic sources, specifically firearms legally owned by civilians and the state. Recent SA Police Service figures (2023/24) report 9,193 lost or stolen firearms (25 per day), with police losing 741 (two per day) and civilians losing 8,452 (23 per day).
“Every gun diverted from legal custody into the illegal pool, fuels violent crime,” Maphosa said.
He also noted that in 2023/24, firearms were used in 44% of all South African murders.
“Firearms are driving our soaring murder rate,” Maphosa said.
He said GFSA’s clear position focuses on public safety, that all illegal firearms must be recovered and there must be strict control over legal guns.
Maphosa said the theft of an R5 rifle, pistols, a shotgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition strongly suggests intent to resupply criminal networks.
“The R5 is a high-powered weapon designed for military use, capable of semi-automatic and automatic fire. Such firearms have historically been diverted into gang and organised crime networks when controls break down,” Maphosa said.
He said the diversion of firearms from South African police stores and evidence rooms to criminals is a documented issue.
“When firearms are stolen from police premises, it raises legitimate concerns about possible internal breaches, corruption, or negligence. Investigations must therefore examine both external criminal action and internal compliance with the Firearms Control Act’s safe storage provisions,” Maphosa said.
Guns in the illegal market do not appear randomly, he said.
“All illegal guns were once legal before being diverted. That is why illegal firearms recovery operations alone are insufficient. We must close the tap by strengthening oversight and accountability within the legal gun ownership system, both at the state and civilian levels,” Maphosa said.
Maphosa stressed that the theft of empty magazines alongside firearms and ammunition is significant because magazines are essential components for firearms, especially R5 rifles, to function efficiently and sustain rapid fire.
“Taking empty magazines indicates planning. It suggests the perpetrators intended to ensure that the stolen firearms remain operational and usable over time, rather than opportunistic theft. It also signals potential redistribution within criminal networks, where components are as valuable as the firearm itself,” Maphosa explained.
“From a firearms control perspective, this highlights the importance of comprehensive inventory management — not just of guns, but of ammunition and critical components. Weak record-keeping and inconsistent stock control create opportunities for diversion.”
Maphosa said the Ulundi K9 Unit theft reinforces GFSA’s longstanding call for a forensic audit of firearm management systems; strict enforcement of the Firearms Control Act, as well as amending the Act through the Firearms Control Amendment Bill to close all the loopholes that have been abused.
“Recover illegal firearms and control legal firearms. That is how we reduce diversion, protect communities, and save lives,” Maphosa said.