DA concerned by steep prices for guns in suspicious tender

Expensive pistols and rifles are usually used in competitions and not crime prevention, according to experts.

- Marizka Coetzer

This after the DA asked the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate a suspicious firearm tender that cost the Gauteng department of community safety almost R78 000 per pistol.

Rural criminologist, Dr Witness Maluleka said the complaint was a common practice, adding that the public sector was often targeted by tenderpreneurs price hiking... doubling prices is used to get rich quickly.

"This is highly organised, involving kickbacks. The case in question should be investigated. This practice should be rooted out and largely exposed," he said.

Maluleka said SA could not afford to be careless as the present situation could lead to uncontrollable corruption.