R5 000 could be yours, if you report an illegal firearm

The Western Cape’s Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, Reagen Allen, relaunched the much-anticipated reward system to encourage the public to report the whereabouts of illegal firearms.

Allen was joined by the Western Cape’s Deputy Police Commissioner, Major-General Manci, at the Delft Police Station, and as part of his 1st anniversary in office.

The initiative was first launched by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde in 2019, when he was the provincial Community Safety MEC.

Allen said the reward system seeks residents to report the location of illegal firearms by dialing 021 466 0011. He added that the person reporting the firearm can do so anonymously, or they can share their details with the trusted SAPS officers that will field the calls.

‘’The details of the person reporting the firearms will under no circumstances be made public. Upon reporting the firearm, it will be collected by SAPS,’’ said Reagen Allen, Western Cape’s Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC.

PICTURE: WCGov

The entire R5 000 will not be given as is, though. Allen said that once it is confirmed as an illegal firearm, R 1 500 will be awarded to the individual who reported it. When an arrest is made that is directly linked to the firearm, a further R 1 500 will be paid to the person who reported it and should there be a conviction that is tied to the firearm, the balance of R 2 000 will be paid out to the person who made the report.

“I want the public at large to use this opportunity to help us get these illegal firearms off our streets. Our hope is that this will serve as enough encouragement so that we can make our streets safer. During the first ten weeks of 2023, shootings accounted for 44% of homicides, which is the highest cause of murders in the province. During the third quarter, October 2022 to December 2022, of the 2022/23 financial year, firearms were also the instrument used to commit 47,8% of all murders, which was also the highest during the period.”

“Part of the reason why we are launching this initiative in Delft, is because it is currently third on the top 30 murder station list across the country, and second in the province behind Mfuleni. We have worked hard to ensure that processes are in place so that when a report comes in, all protocol is followed. These protocols will assist SAPS in taking illegal guns off our streets and out of the hands of criminals,’’ he added.

Allen said posters explaining the initiative will be placed in every police station across the Western Cape.

‘’However, one of the best ways to reach our communities is by SAPS members sharing this news far and wide. We sincerely hope that this will lead to a large number of calls and reports about where these illegal firearms are. We all have a role to play and now though this programme every resident can be a part of the solution,” Reagen Allen, Western Cape’s Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC.

 

SUPPLIED: 

Western Cape’s Deputy Police Commissioner, Major-General Manci

Done By: Mitchum George