Chairperson, the answer to the member's question is yes. The member's application for a SAPS 108 personal inventory firearm was granted in accordance with the relevant prescripts of the SA Police Service. However, the member is now suspended without pay and his firearm was removed.
The SA Police Service complies with the required legislation, which includes the following: All official firearms and ammunition that are not under the direct and physical control of a member are stored in a safe or strong room that conforms to the prescripts of the South African Bureau of Standards standard 953-1 and 953-2 as prescribed by the SAPS regulations. Inspections are conducted of all firearms stored at all police stations.
Every member who has a firearm on his/her personal inventory is issued with an official safe for the safekeeping of the SAPS firearm. The possession of a prescribed safe is a prerequisite to the issuing of an official firearm on personal inventory to a member. All SAPS firearms and ammunition on a room inventory of a safe or strong room, or issued to a member on his or her personal inventory, are inspected twice a year and then certified on the Provisioning Administration System. A stocktaking and certification certificate must be completed by the inventory controller.
Designated supply chain management, Amos, also annually inspects all SAPS firearms on a room inventory of a safe or strong room, or issued to a member on their personal inventory.
Employees of the SA Police Service are reached via proactive programmes conducted on a macro level in order to market the services of Employee Health and Wellness. These programmes educate police officials on suicide awareness, relationships, emotional regulation and topics relevant to the organisation and the individual.
Regular psychological evaluation is not possible due to various reasons, such as the ratio of employees to registered psychologists and it being prohibited in terms of the Employment Equity Act, Act 55 of 1998.
The top management of the SA Police Service views employee wellness as a top priority and therefore will support all scientific measures implemented proactively and reactively in order to enhance the wellness of all employees.