Businessman Calvin Mathibeli's property in Broadway, Durban North, was raided by the SAPS.
Image: Tumi Pakkies / Independent Newspapers
Police found significant discrepancies in the firearm register of Calvin and Family Security Services, a business owned by Calvin Mojalefa Mathibeli, during a compliance inspection called Operation Buyisa.
The operation, which aims to remove illegal firearms and prevent non-compliant security firms from using them, took place at Mathibeli’s Durban North offices on Thursday.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda revealed several concerns. A major issue is the improperly completed firearm register, with some firearms not present at the Durban North premises.
Police emphasised the importance of proper documentation, including signatures from both the person dispatching and the recipient, for any firearm transactions.
Netshiunda said that a person responsible for firearms in a security company is typically the owner; however, in Mathibeli’s security company, that is not the case. He said someone was appointed to be in charge of the firearms.
“That person is telling us that the company has 815 firearms in their books and in their safes. That, for now, does not correspond with the record that we have as police. Our records indicate that the company should at least have over 850 firearms,” he explained.
While the company claims 11 firearms are at the iNanda police station, taken from a security company in Cator Manor, Netshiunda stated this information would be verified by checking the iNanda SAP13 stores.
Police carried out a raid on a Durban North security firm after the Durban High Court dismissed an urgent bid by businessman Calvin Mathibeli to block a firearms compliance inspection.
Image: Tumi Pakkies / Independent Newspapers
Another compliance violation noted was the use of a pencil in the register, which can be erased, instead of permanent ink.
“We are still operating, but once we are done, we will be able to connect the dots, and if any wrong steps need to be taken, they will be taken,” he said.
The police spokesperson warned that if the missing firearms are not found at the Durban North location, the inspection would be extended to the company’s other branches in Newcastle, Western Cape, Gauteng, and Limpopo.
Netshiunda highlighted the gravity of firearm regulation, citing the use of such weapons in serious crimes, including murder and cash-in-transit robberies.
He added that he could not provide a completion timeframe for the inspection of Mathibeli's more than 800 firearms.
He explained that they have to inspect each and every firearm and ammunition thoroughly. He said if there are firearms that are not accounted for, cases would be opened and people responsible must face the music.
The operation proceeded after Mathibeli’s urgent application to the Durban High Court to stop Operation Buyisa was dismissed.
nomonde.zondi@inl.co.za