Guns ‘go missing’ from police station in Cape Town
CAPE TOWN — Several firearms handed in as exhibits have apparently gone missing from a storeroom at the Bellville South police station.
The missing weapons are now the centre of a police investigation. This comes as gang and underworld violence have recently flared up around the Western Cape.
Yesterday, asked if 20 guns had been stolen from the storeroom of the Bellville South station, police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana said, “During an inspection at Bellville South police station, it was discovered that some firearms that were handed in as exhibits were unaccounted for.” She said an investigation had been launched. “Once the investigation is finalised, its outcome will be communicated,” Rwexana said.
The Bellville South area is known as a stronghold of the Sexy Boys gang. On Monday, a shootout erupted outside the Bellville Magistrate’s Court after arguments between rival gangsters.
News24 understands members of the Terrible Josters gang, the Bad Boys gang and Sexy Boys gang were involved in the violence. Several other gang shootings are playing out around the province.
Some of the most volatile and violent areas include Bishop Lavis, parts of Mitchells Plain and Elsies River.
Guns stolen from police have been the focus of an investigation before. Ex-police colonel, Chris Prinsloo, now serving a jail sentence, previously said he had sold at least 2 000 firearms which were stolen from police stores in Gauteng and which were meant to be destroyed. — Sapa