MyZA

News, Directory, Events and Other Stuff

You are here: Home / News / Municipality’s Reckless Firearm Procurement: A Threat to Public Safety

Municipality’s Reckless Firearm Procurement: A Threat to Public Safety

GOOD Statement by Keagen Gertse,GOOD Drakenstein Councillor & Caucus Whip 10 June 2025 The GOOD Party in Drakenstein is gravely concerned by the Municipality’s reckless and unlawful procurement of firearms, effectively turning the municipality into a lawless “Wild West.” Despite not yet being recognised as an official institution licensed to own or carry firearms, Drakenstein […]

The post DRAKENSTEIN MUNICIPALITY’S RECKLESS FIREARM PROCUREMENT: A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY appeared first on For Good.

GOOD Statement by Keagen Gertse, GOOD Drakenstein Councillor & Caucus Whip:

The GOOD Party in Drakenstein is gravely concerned by the Municipality’s reckless and unlawful procurement of firearms, effectively turning the municipality into a lawless “Wild West.”

Despite not yet being recognised as an official institution licensed to own or carry firearms, Drakenstein Municipality proceeded to issue and award tender PS 3/2024 for the supply and delivery of various firearms. This was confirmed by MMC Avron Appollis during the May sitting of the Council, where he stated that the Municipality is “legally in the clear” because the weapons are for training purposes only.

This interpretation is not only misleading, it is dangerously incorrect.

During a Public Safety Portfolio Committee meeting on 5 May 2025, GOOD directly questioned the status of Drakenstein’s application for institutional firearm accreditation. We were informed that the application remains pending, with significant delays due to a previous submission being lost enroute to Pretoria. This means Drakenstein has not received the necessary approval from the National Police Commissioner, and is therefore not authorised to procure, store, or use firearms.

Section 98 of the Firearms Control Act, 2000 is explicit – “A government department may only acquire, possess or use firearms or ammunition if authorised to do so by the National Commissioner.” There are only two ways for such authorisation to be granted: recognition as an official institution by the Registrar or express written consent from the Commissioner. Drakenstein has neither.

The claim by MMC Appollis that there is a legal loophole permitting procurement for training is a gross distortion of the law. The Act sets no such exceptions. This is not just a technical breach. It is a fundamental failure of governance that places public safety at risk.

The Department of Public Safety, under MMC Appollis’ political leadership, has undermined the law and misled both Council and the residents of Drakenstein. This constitutes a breach of public trust and a flagrant violation of national legislation.

The GOOD Party is appalled by this gross negligence and call for an immediate investigation into the Municipality’s firearm procurement process. The municipality must suspend any firearm acquisition or training until full compliance with the Firearms Control Act is confirmed.

Drakenstein’s residents deserve leadership that respects the rule of law and places their safety above reckless political bravado.

GOOD Manifesto on Interfaith Dialogue: Encouraging dialogue and understanding among different faiths.

Read More at the Source

Category: Tag: , , , , , ,

If you feel strongly about this article then feel free to send MyZA a ‘Letter to the Editor’ using the submission form below:

Letter to the Editor

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
If this is in response to an article please include that article title here or as the lead in for the first paragraph of your Letter below.

Separate tags with commas

Localise your letter by naming the city your words are about. Add relevant words describing your subject. Single comma separated words of no more than 5
Your Name(Required)
Your Name will be linked to the website below.
Your personal, business or social media web site
Choose NO to not set up a user account on MyZA. User Accounts will allow you to submit letters under your own Author Name

3 Latest Letters to the Editor:

  • Fun South African fact

    Dear Editor Fun South African fact: towns like Franschhoek and Stellenbosch are home to world-class wine farms set in stunning, scenic surroundings. Regards Aressa Smith In Response to/From: Luxury Properties Seized in New Lottery Crackdown

  • Condolences on the Passing of Lusanda Dumke

    Statement by Leander Kruger MPL – DA Buffalo City Constituency Leader: The Democratic Alliance in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality mourns the passing of Springbok Women’s rugby player and Mdantsane trailblazer, Lusanda Dumke, who lost her battle with cancer at the age of 28. South Africa has lost an exceptional athlete, a leader, and a source…

  • Rape Kits Delivered, But…

    Statement by Nicholas Gotsell MP – DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice: The DA can confirm that 2 840 rape kits arrived in Cape Town on Monday, following sustained DA oversight and pressure after multiple police stations across the Western Cape were found to be without this critical forensic evidence tool. While this delivery…

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Domkop – idiot [dom-kop] Similar to the German “dummkopf” or Dutch “domkop”, this term literally translates to “dumb head” and is a derogatory term used to describe someone who you think is stupid.Example: “Ag! You domkop! You broke my cell phone!”

  2. Bunny Chow. This is a traditional South African Indian dish and usually consists of curry served in a hollowed-out half-loaf of unsliced white bread. It’s best when the bread is soft and fresh and the curry is extra spicy.