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The Minister of Police, Nathi Mthethwa, can not say how many R5 assault rifles have been stolen or gone missing in the past year from the Police. He replied in writing to a question of Pieter Groenewald of the Freedom Front Plus in Parliament. Mthethwa also confirmed that six members of the Police were arrested last year in regard to the theft of R5 rifles and that at present the Police is busy with a comprehensive audit process.

"It is very disconcerting that the Minister can not say how many R5 rifles have been stolen from the Police. That means that there hadn't been any control and management of rifles. To say that an audit process is currently being undertaken, is further proof of the lack of control. The Police are merciless when it comes to firearm owners and regularly accuse firearm owners of poor control over their firearms which contribute to crime. From the reply, it is clear that the Police contribute to crime. The arrests of six police members for theft of R5 rifles also point to the corruption of some members and confirm the suspicion that R5 rifles which are being used in robberies many times had been that of the Police," Mr. Pieter Groenewald (MP), chief spokesperson on the Police for the Freedom Front Plus says.