Operation Buyisa seizes 100 illegal firearms from Soweto security firm after Psira suspension

Operation Buyisa recovered 100 illegal firearms and ammunition from a security company in Soweto on Saturday after the company’s Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira) accreditation was suspended, the South African Police Service (Saps) said.

Raid followed Psira suspension and storage failings

Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Amanda van Wyk said the seizure took place as part of Operation Buyisa, a national Saps intervention targeting the illegal proliferation of firearms. According to a preliminary report, the company failed to dispose of weapons when its Psira accreditation was suspended.

“The inspection also showed the company’s firearm storage facility does not meet the requirements stipulated in the Act. The seized firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing to determine whether they have been used in the commission of any crimes.”

Ballistic testing and further checks

Van Wyk said the seized firearms would undergo ballistic testing to establish whether they have been used in criminal activity.

Expert reaction and broader context

Prof Witness Maluleke, head of department for criminology and criminal justice at the University of Limpopo, described the case as one among many pending and commented on Saps’ efforts.

“The Saps operation is trying to rectify that. They should not give up against the mountainous task ahead.”

Deputy Minister of Police Polly Boshielo last month led the destruction of 11 859 firearms and firearm parts as part of International Firearm Destruction Day. The destruction included 9 596 handguns, 1 102 rifles, 798 shotguns, 33 combination firearms and 330 firearm parts. The Citizen reported that this brought the total number of firearms destroyed by Saps over the past seven years to 317 811.

The report also said Saps seizes no fewer than 100 illegal firearms every week through tracing operations, searches and targeted crime-combating initiatives, a figure attributed to Boshielo.

What happens next

The immediate next steps outlined in the police report include ballistic testing of the seized weapons and further investigative procedures to determine whether any of the firearms were used in crimes. The police also flagged deficiencies in the company’s firearm storage compliance with legislative requirements.