RECEIPTS City of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis
Image: File Photo
Western Cape police have dismissed as misinformation claims by the City which suggested an “unacceptably low conviction rate", reported at just 5% for the illegal possession of unlicensed or prohibited firearms.
According to police, the figures by the City were inaccurate.
The City had implied that the 5% conviction rate was linked to the 1670 firearms confiscated by the City’s law enforcement from January 2021 to date, which Saps maintained was “misleading”.
Police were responding to a statement issued by the City on May 23, where they said: “Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced this week that City policing operations are removing over 400 illegal guns from the streets every year, but a broken criminal justice system secures convictions in just 5% of these cases. The SAPS and prosecutors have secured just 81 convictions so far from the 1 670 guns seized by municipal officers from January 2021 - January 2025.”
Provincial police spokesperson, Andrè Traut said this was incorrect.
“The Western Cape SAPS has noted with concern recent claims suggesting an unacceptably low conviction rate, reported at just 5% for the illegal possession of unlicensed or prohibited firearms. Firearm-related crime remains a top priority for SAPS in the Western Cape, where firearms are frequently used to commit serious and violent offences. In response, SAPS members are relentlessly pursuing armed criminals, aiming not only to remove illegal firearms from our communities but also to ensure the successful prosecution of those found in possession of them. Contrary to the inaccurate figures being circulated, an analysis of our conviction record paints a far more accurate and encouraging picture. Our detectives have consistently achieved strong conviction rates."
According to Saps their numbers showed an over 80% conviction rate for the past three years:
- 2021/2022 financial year: 86% conviction rate for illegal possession of firearms
- 2022/2023 financial year: 86% conviction rate for illegal possession of firearms
- 2023/2024 financial year: 89% conviction rate for illegal possession of firearms
“These results reflect the dedicated efforts of the investigators, prosecutors, and the broader criminal justice system to hold offenders accountable and enhance public safety and are the rates for all firearms confiscated by SAPS and other law enforcement agencies. Our mission remains to foster safer communities across the Western Cape. Misinformation, especially when it undermines public confidence in policing and the justice system, can generate unwarranted fear and mistrust. It is therefore essential that accurate and verified data be shared responsibly to support, rather than hinder, our collective efforts in fighting crime,” Traut added.
Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith maintained their 5% conviction rate was calculated and derived from the number of arrests they recorded.
“When looking at the statistics presented by SAPS, it is clear that a fundamental component of their calculation is absent: they have not indicated exactly how many of the cases actually went to court. It is feasible to get a conviction rate between 80% and 90% when you are only measuring the portion of the cases that make it to court.
“According to the SAPS statistics for the period between January 2020 and December 2024 a total of 13 727 arrests were made for the illegal possession of firearms. If the average conviction rate of 85% is to be believed, that would mean that SAPS obtained a staggering total of 11 668 convictions if every arrest actually made it to trial,” he said.
Mayor Georgin Hill-Lewis added that conviction rates of 80-90% are “misleading” due to how many cases never go to trial.
“Our experience is that despite City policing operations removing over 400 illegal guns from the streets every year, the vast majority of these cases do not go to trial due to our broken criminal justice system, which secured convictions in just 5% of the 1 670 cases of illegal guns seized by City officers over four years.”
Meanwhile the City’s Safety and Security Portfolio Committee on Wednesday adopted a motion calling for the devolution of targeted policing powers from the national government.
The document presented by the committee states: “If the formal process through the Intergovernmental Relations Framework fails to achieve outcomes, that the City Manager proceeds to begin an adjudication process through the courts to devolve policing powers, thereby empowering the City of Cape Town with investigating powers to assist the SAPS adequately in addressing the scourge of gun violence.”
The motion was presented by DA councillor Yusuf Mohamed and seconded by UDM councillor Bongani Maqungwana.
It calls for a formal request to the national government to empower City law enforcement to investigative gang-related crimes, drug trafficking, extortion, firearm offences, forensic testing of firearms and access to crime intelligence.
Additional reporting by Mandilakhe Tshwete.
Cape Times