Cape Town — The Pretoria High Court has ruled in favour of the South African Agri Initiative (SAAI) after it sought access to records regarding the destruction of firearms by the South African Police Services (SAPS).
The SAAI brought the matter before the court after it deemed SAPS failed to provide evidence that the destroyed firerarms were subjected to the Integrated Ballistic Identification System prior to being destroyed. The SAAI has, unsuccessfully, been trying to get police to release the records, EWN reported.
The SAAI just wanted them to provide proof that the destroyed firearms were, in fact, accounted for as they were potentially linked to crimes. It said if the proper legal procedures were not followed, then police are complicit in the crimes.
The request was pertaining to two police media statements from 8 July 2021 and 10 March 2022, respectively, where SAPS said it destroyed over 50 000 firearms. The SAAI’s initial appeal on 7 February 2022 was declined and it then launched an internal appeal on 24 June 2022, which was successful.
The matter was brought before the court last month to compel the SAPS to provide the requested records, and the police services now have 30 days to respond and provide the records.
Just received judgement where our firm acted for @Saai_org in a matter where they sought access to records regarding the destruction of firearms by the SAPS. The High Court has ruled in our client’s favour to compel SAPS to provide the requested records. pic.twitter.com/aUozBKn5gO
— Daniël Eloff (@DJEloff) March 11, 2024
The case centered around the request for records regarding the destruction of firearms by the SAPS after the SAPS failed to provide proof that the firearms were subjected to IBIS ballistic analysis prior to being destroyed. pic.twitter.com/lItB39qSHc
— Daniël Eloff (@DJEloff) March 11, 2024
This means that it remains unclear whether these firearms, potentially linked to crimes, were properly accounted for before being destroyed.
SAPS now has 30 days to provide the records. pic.twitter.com/H6vNrdunO3
— Daniël Eloff (@DJEloff) March 11, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
