Vereeniging – National Police Commissioner Riah Phiyega on Thursday lashed out at former Colonel Christiaan Prinsloo who has been implicated in the theft and selling of firearms to gangsters on the Cape Flats.Prinsloo had headed the Firearm, Liquor and Second Hand Goods Control unit in Gauteng.
He appeared in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday where he was released on R20 000 bail.
Phiyega said the SA Police Service was beyond disappointed with Prinsloo.
“This man allegedly stole from the police and society at large. We are convinced that with the evidence we have amassed, the court will hopefully find him guilty,” she told reporters in Vereeniging.
She called for harsh punishment.
“The Asset Forfeiture Unit has already encircled him to make sure he derives no benefit from his ill-gotten gains,” she said.
Phiyega was in Vereenigeng where she was expected to take part in the destruction of more than 14 000 firearms as part of International Firearm Destruction Day.
Some of these guns were illegal while others had been handed in voluntarily to the police.
She said the police had to play their part in ensuring that their official service pistols did not land up in the wrong hands.
“At one point we were losing some 5 500 firearms annually. This number has reduced to 771 in the past financial year. Although this is a good achievement, we must continue to do more,” she said.
Phiyega was accompanied by other senior police officers including Gauteng’s police commissioner, Lieutenant General Lesetja Mothiba.
PH
