Some of the firearms found at private security companies seized photo supplied
By Lt Col Amanda van Wyk
SAPS Spokesperson
The National Tracking and Tracing Task Team, under OPERATION BUYISA, has seized 226 firearms from a registered private security company after uncovering serious contraventions of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act 60 of 2000).
The Act places strict obligations on licence holders to ensure safe storage, proper authorisation, and accountability for all firearms. In terms of Section 120(1), it is an offence to:
Some of the firearms found at private security companies seized photo supplied
-contravene or fail to comply with any provision of the Act;
-breach conditions of a licence, permit or authorisation; or
-disregard any lawful notice or requirement issued under the Act.
The team seized the following firearms registered in the security company’s name following intelligence-driven investigations:
Krugersdorp, GP – 204 company owned firearms from its business premises and two unlicensed firearms, responsible person arrested.
Lephalale, LIM – One rifle in possession of an unauthorised individual.
Booysens, GP – Three firearms found in possession of another security company.
Makhado, MP – 11 firearms for unlawful storage; one firearm with ammunition and spent cartridges found in an open field.
Dirkiesdorp, MP – Five firearms recovered from security officials for pointing and discharging of a firearm in a public space.
Randburg, GP – One firearm linked to a 2016 attempted murder of police officials.
In total, 226 firearms were confiscated, while 377 company-registered firearms remain unaccounted for.
A Section 106 notice compelled the company to present these outstanding firearms.
Operating under multiple trading names, the company’s registered storage address were also found to be incorrect.
Several seized firearms are already linked to cash-in-transit robberies, attempted murder of police officials, and armed business robberies.
All firearms will undergo forensic IBIS testing to trace additional crimes.
Police are also investigating whether the company is illegally renting its firearms to third parties, which is a direct contravention of the Firearms Control Act.
Launched in July 2025, OPERATION BUYISA is a national intervention aimed at removing illegal firearms from circulation and ensuring compliance with the Firearms Control Act.
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