--- title: "Policeman’s firearm ‘stolen’ after attending Khayelitsha memorial for murdered cop" description: "A memorial service was held for Constable Akho Ndzingo last week. He had recently been shot dead in Khayelitsha. After attending the service, a police officer’s firearm was reported as stolen – it seems to have been taken while he was visiting another cop." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "LAW AND DISORDER" author: "Caryn Dolley" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/caryn-dolley/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-06-24-policemans-firearm-stolen-after-attending-khayelitsha-memorial-for-murdered-cop/" published: "2024-06-24T20:26:01" updated: "2024-06-24T20:26:04" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 655 --- # Policeman’s firearm ‘stolen’ after attending Khayelitsha memorial for murdered cop > A memorial service was held for Constable Akho Ndzingo last week. He had recently been shot dead in Khayelitsha. After attending the service, a police officer’s firearm was reported as stolen – it seems to have been taken while he was visiting another cop. By Caryn Dolley · Published 24 June 2024, 22:26 SAST · Updated 24 June 2024, 22:26 SAST ## Key points - A police officer's firearm goes missing in Khayelitsha while attending a memorial service for a murdered colleague, sparking an investigation against a backdrop of firearm-related controversies within the South African Police Service. - Police officer's work firearm goes missing in Khayelitsha during memorial service for murdered colleague - Firearm theft investigation under way, appeal for information made by Western Cape police - Incident sheds light on violent crime in Khayelitsha, recent cop killing mourned - Recent dismissals of police officers linked to missing firearms in Mitchells Plain station, crackdown on illegal firearms in Western Cape ## Content A police officer’s work firearm appears to have been stolen in Khayelitsha on the day he attended the memorial service of a fellow cop who had earlier been murdered in the suburb. *Daily Maverick* understands that the officer, a member of the Public Order Police, gave a colleague a lift home following the service on 20 June. While in the colleague’s house, the firearm might have been removed from beneath a seat in the vehicle that the officer had been driving. #### **Firearm theft investigation** On Monday, Western Cape police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed to *Daily Maverick* the incident was under investigation. “A case of theft has been registered with Khayelitsha police for further investigation,” he said. “An appeal is hereby made to anyone with information to please call CrimeStop on 08600 10111.” The case is one of several relating to firearms and the South African Police Service (SAPS) and comes at a time when officers are cracking down on illegal firearms. **Read more in Daily Maverick:**[Morning of murders — eight people shot dead in Khayelitsha](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-04-17-morning-of-murders-eight-people-shot-dead-in-khayelitsha/) The incident also highlights the scourge of violent crime in Khayelitsha. #### **Cop killing** In one of the more recent shootings on 12 June, constable Akhona Ndzingo was murdered. He had been based at the Khayelitsha police station and was [reportedly](https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/psl-referee-akho-ndzingo-shot-dead-in-cape-town) a Premier Soccer League referee. On 20 June, a memorial service was held for him in Khayelitsha. > [#sapsWC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/sapsWC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)[#SAPS](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SAPS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Deputy Provincial Commissioners for Support Services and Crime Detection, Major General Preston Voskuil and Major General Bongani Maqashalala were accompanied by the City of Cape Town District Commissioner, Major General Vincent Beaton, Provincial SAPS management,… [pic.twitter.com/mkWFtfp2w5](https://t.co/mkWFtfp2w5) > > — SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) [June 20, 2024](https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService/status/1803717426032304273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) The SAPS posted on social media: “The young constable’s life was cut short when he was shot and killed in Khayelitsha while he was serving his community last week. “The memorial service was preceded by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Khayelitsha police station where constable Ndzingo was stationed.” #### **Missing gun** *Daily Maverick* understands that a police officer gave a colleague a lift home to Site C, Khayelitsha after Ndzingo’s memorial service. It is understood that, once there, the officer went into his colleague’s home to socialise for around 15 minutes. While on his way home, the officer checked for his firearm beneath the driver’s seat where he had left it, but it was not there. #### **Dismissals** There have recently been other issues relating to firearms that reflect poorly on the SAPS. Last week, *Daily Maverick* reported that five police officers had been dismissed after being linked to the disappearance of 15 firearms from the Mitchells Plain police station. **Read more in Daily Maverick:**[Five cops fired in ongoing Mitchells Plain ‘missing police guns’ scandal](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-06-19-five-cops-fired-in-ongoing-mitchells-plain-missing-police-guns-scandal/) It was not the first time this police station has been connected to a scandal involving missing firearms. About seven years ago, 15 handguns disappeared from the station’s community service centre. A group of officers faced disciplinary action including suspensions and dismissals, but were later cleared of wrongdoing. #### **Gangster’s funeral** Meanwhile, police in the Western Cape are cracking down on illegal firearms. Provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie said on 22 June that national Public Order Police based in Cape Town had arrested a suspect in Strand and confiscated a “black Formula 9mm KRL” and a “black Glock 9mm.” > [#sapsWC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/sapsWC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Members attached to the National POP based in Cape Town are making inroads in the fight against the proliferation of illegal firearms. Four firearms were confiscated on Saturday and suspects arrested for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. [#GunsOffTheStreets](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GunsOffTheStreets?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) ML… [pic.twitter.com/Xk9nDPL1ct](https://t.co/Xk9nDPL1ct) > > — SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) [June 23, 2024](https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService/status/1804915693487264039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) “Earlier the same day, members … were deployed to … the funeral of a known gangster who was shot and killed a week ago,” Pojie said. “During the event \[in Strand\] members conducted random searches and confiscated two firearms which resulted in the arrests of two men.” **DM**