The IFP is calling for a comprehensive plan from National Police Minister Mr Bheki Cele and the KwaZulu-Natal Community Safety and Liaison MEC Mr Mxolisi Kaunda to intensify the fight of eradicating illegal firearms in our province. We are not convinced with the insignificant progress made in getting rid of firearms in our communities since the campaign drive that was announced thirteen months ago by the then acting KZN Police Commissioner, General Bheki Langa.
Fact of life is that in this province an hour hardly passes without us hearing of another murder, assassination, rape, abduction and burglary. We call on the National Police Minister to step in and enforce this fight. He needs to provide clear short-term and long-term goals on how he would execute this mission of cleaning our province.
The call to intensify the fight against firearms comes after a man believed to be a foreigner was seen by the public in Umlazi V section, shooting randomly at all angles in a crowded pedestrian road before he fatally shot himself this past weekend. He is alleged to have gunned down a woman in Cato Ridge just a few hours before killing himself.
Cleaning our communities of illegal guns will also avert loss of lives in another ticking bomb of the on-going war in Mbumbulu where over 82 people have been gunned down in taxi related attacks which MEC Kaunda has dismally failed to resolve.
The failure to resolve taxi wars vividly demonstrates the grip of an unparalleled wave of gun violence that our province is in. It is truly disturbing that to this day we do not see any active campaigns encouraging communities to report illegal firearms in their communities. We are gravely concerned with the rise on cases where people find it acceptable to just shoot and kill other people in broad day light”, said IFP Spokesperson on Community Safety and Liaison, Mr Blessed Gwala, MPL
“We cannot go on like this, for a very long time we have been calling for a thorough investigation into the proliferation of illegal firearms in our communities, warning that the province is increasingly becoming a harbour for gun-toting assassins. Our calls fell into deaf ears. The department must understand that the removal of illegal firearms will prevent these reckless and unnecessary loss of lives and crime. Criminals and murderers are already a step ahead of the law enforcement agencies because they continuously fail to heighten visible policing in our communities. Hosting of media conferences, unending meetings and lavish summits is not yielding any results”, continued Gwala.
Lastly the party would like to express our heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the deceased, concluded Gwala.
Issued by:
IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson for Community Safety and Liaison
Mr Blessed Gwala MPL
078 290 5842
