Firearm Recovery Data Raises Concern in Cape Town

Cape Town officials have warned that the city’s firearm recovery figures point to deeper problems in the criminal justice chain. City of Cape Town Law Enforcement recovered 1 670 illegal guns between 2021 and January 2025, yet only 81 cases led to convictions. Almost half of the remaining matters were dropped due to weak evidence or no prospect of prosecution.

The city argues that delayed forensic reports, missing case files, and unserved warrants are slowing progress and allowing suspects to evade accountability. The low conviction rate highlights a gap between police operations and courtroom outcomes, raising questions about the effectiveness of national prosecutorial and forensic systems.