Security firms under fire

POLICE have warned the directors of security companies who stock firearms and fail to register them that they would be jailed for contravening the law

The warning comes after police stormed the premises of a security company at Umbilo in Durban and found that the company was not complying with the Firearms Control Act.

Police seized 12 firearms at the premises on Wednesday. The firm had no permits to keep the weapons. This is the second such incident in KwaZulu-Natal in less than 48 hours.

On Tuesday, police seized 200 firearms from another security company and charged its owners with contravening the Firearms Control Act.

Police had stopped a vehicle belonging to a security company while transporting firearms to guards' sites.

Two security guards were arrested for transporting the firearms while they had no permits and were charged with possessing illegal firearms.

The director of the Private Security Regulatory Authority of SA, Sam Chauke, said the problem of security companies who are not complying was extensive.

"We started the project with police to deal with the companies after the public complained about lack of control of firearms in the security industry," he said.

Chauke said security companies were being investigated and charged if they do not comply with the act.

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