Cape Town police have come under scrutiny after firearms and ammunition seized during April 2026 were left unattended in SAPS 13 stores at various police stations instead of being sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) for analysis.

Ian Cameron, DA MP and chairperson of the National Portfolio Committee on Police, raised concerns about the situation, highlighting that exhibits include firearms with removed serial numbers, prohibited weapons, homemade 'zip guns', and live ammunition linked to multiple high-crime areas.Cameron requested an audit of SAPS 13 stores in high-crime precincts, proper docket inspections, and accountability for procedural lapses.This follows a history of missing firearms at Mitchells Plain and Bellville South stations, with 56 firearms disappearing over a decade.

The Cape Argus has questioned the provincial police about the fate of 15 firearms and eight imitation guns that vanished during transport to the FSL in November 2023.

SAPS spokesperson Andre Traut acknowledged the importance of forensic analysis in criminal investigations but emphasized that such matters should be addressed through parliamentary platforms.

Advocacy groups like the Cape Flats Safety Forum are calling for urgent action, citing recent mass shootings as evidence of the need for accountability.