Cape Town - A burglary at the headquarters of the Public Order Police in Faure, where riot control ammunition and a gas canister launcher were stolen, has led to calls for an independent investigation.
A shocking internal SAPs report has shown officers stationed at the base, home to the specialised SAPS unit, that it was burgled on Monday morning.
According to the report – directed at Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile and other top cops in the province – on arrival, officers learned the thieves had entered a platoon store and also broke into the cage holding the firearm safe.
Among the list of stolen items were the launcher, eight stun grenades, two smoke grenades, two boxes of rubber rounds and two ammunition belts consisting of 40 rubber rounds.
The report further states there were no witnesses.
Police spokesperson Andrè Traut confirmed the incident and said non-lethal ammunition was stolen.
“Kleinvlei detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding a housebreaking and theft case which was perpetuated at the SAPS Faure base. On Monday at around 11.30am, it was discovered that a storeroom was burgled and that non-lethal riot control ammunition and a gas canister launcher were stolen.
“No one has been arrested as yet.” According to a Cape Argus source, the officers working at the base had warned of the issues prior to the burglary.
“The guys working there said a long time ago that the squatter camp, which started nearby, was problematic. There is an active shooting range and the people just walk onto the base as if it’s just a sports field,” the source said.
Abie Isaacs of the Cape Flats Safety Forum said they were shocked and angry to hear of the burglary. They demanded answers as to how thieves managed to enter a SAPS base undetected.
“We are angered that the store has been burgled and we call for a full forensic investigation. We believe the management of the base should be suspended with immediate effect pending an investigation.
“We call on the authorities, including Ipid and the Hawks, to put the communities at ease that they are dealing with this. This comes on the back of an increase in violence on the Cape Flats and we hope the authorities will be transparent.
“It cannot be that a thief just walks into a SAPS base, which should be guarded, and we have some serious questions about how this was allowed to happen. We believe there must be an independent probe into this,” said Isaacs.
Justin Kumlehn of the Western Cape Provincial Community Police Board said they were alerted to the burglary and hoped the security issues would be addressed.
“The board expresses deep concern regarding this breach of security. We are closely monitoring the ongoing investigation.
“We hope that the security deficiencies that allowed this incident to occur will be thoroughly addressed to prevent future occurrences.
monique.duval@inl.co.za
Cape Argus