'Get serious about guns'

SOURCE: EXPERTS SAY BALLISTICS BACKLOG JUST PART OF PROBLEM AND REFORM IS NEEDED

- Masoka Dube

STAFF CRISIS. The police ballistics laboratory is running out of space to store the 29 000 guns it has in its possession.

(Picture: Gallo Images)

If South Africa is serious about protecting people from gun-related crime, it must immediately implement new strategies, according to experts.

They were reacting to SA Police Service (Saps) national head of ballistics Brigadier Mishak Mkhabela saying the number of guns seized by the police after they were used in criminal activities has increased.

Mkhabela was testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry recently and said in his ballistic laboratory, “there are currently 29 000 firearms linked to criminal cases”.

He conceded that his team was struggling with a number of cases waiting for a ballistic test. He complained about being understaffed.

University of Limpopo professor Witness Maluleke said the Saps submission confirms the country is fighting a losing battle against gun-related crimes.

Maluleke said the bad thing about losing a fight against gun-related violence was that the negative impact was largely felt by law-abiding citizens.

"The current strategies are not working or effective at all. The indicated ballistics backlog showcases that the country is not winning the war against ever-increasing gun-related violent crimes.