Questions mount over missing firearms at Durban security firm

A routine compliance check has turned into something far more serious for a Durban-based private security company and it’s raising uncomfortable questions about how firearms are tracked in one of South Africa’s most heavily armed industries.

Police descended on the Durban North offices of a security firm owned by businessman Calvin Mojalefa Mathibeli as part of a broader crackdown known as Operation Buyisa. What they found inside the company’s firearm records has since triggered a deeper investigation.

A numbers game that doesn’t add up

At the centre of the issue is a troubling mismatch.

According to South African Police Service records, the company should have more than 850 firearms in its possession. But internally, the firm accounts for just 815.

That gap dozens of weapons unaccounted for is exactly the kind of red flag Operation Buyisa is designed to catch.

Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said the discrepancies were picked up during a detailed inspection of the company’s firearm register. Some weapons listed on paper were not physically present at the premises, while others lacked proper documentation.

The paperwork problem

In the world of private security, paperwork isn’t just admin it’s accountability.

Every firearm issued, moved, or returned is supposed to be logged with signatures from both the sender and the receiver. It’s a system meant to ensure that every weapon can be traced at any given moment.

But in this case, officers found records that were incomplete and in some instances, written in pencil.

That detail may sound minor, but it’s a serious breach. Pencil entries can be altered or erased, undermining the integrity of the entire system.

Who’s really in charge?

Another concern raised during the inspection is oversight.

Typically, the owner of a security company is responsible for its firearms. However, in this instance, that responsibility had been delegated to another individual.

That person, according to police, confirmed the company’s internal firearm count a number that doesn’t align with official records.

It’s a disconnect that investigators are now working to untangle.

Following the trail

The company has indicated that at least 11 firearms are currently held at the iNanda Police Station, reportedly linked to a separate case involving a security firm in Cato Manor.

Police say they will verify this by checking official SAP13 storage records a standard procedure for tracking confiscated or stored firearms.

If those weapons are not found where they are supposed to be, the investigation could widen significantly.

Operation Buyisa: why it matters

Operation Buyisa isn’t just another inspection drive. It’s part of a broader effort by law enforcement to tighten control over firearms in a country where gun violence remains a major concern.

From cash-in-transit heists to targeted killings, illegally used or poorly tracked firearms often play a central role.

That’s why every weapon, especially those held by private security companies is expected to be accounted for, down to the last detail.

More inspections could follow

If the discrepancies can’t be resolved at the Durban North site, police have made it clear that they will expand their search to the company’s other branches, including those in Newcastle, Gauteng, Limpopo, and the Western Cape.

And with more than 800 firearms to inspect individually, this is not a process that will be rushed.

Court setback adds pressure

The inspection itself comes after an attempt by Mathibeli to halt the process through the courts. The Durban High Court dismissed the urgent application, effectively clearing the way for Operation Buyisa to proceed.

That decision has now placed the company firmly under the spotlight.

What happens next?

For now, the investigation continues methodically, firearm by firearm.

Police say if any weapons cannot be accounted for, criminal cases could be opened and those responsible will be held accountable.

In a country where the line between legal and illegal firearms can have life-or-death consequences, this is more than a paperwork issue.

It’s about control, responsibility and ultimately, public safety.

{Source: IOL}

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