A new report from the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime has uncovered a sophisticated smuggling operation funneling high-powered weapons from Namibian state armories to criminal gangs in South Africa’s Western Cape.
The report, detailed by the organization’s senior analyst, Aron Hyman, identifies two primary sources for the smuggled firearms: the Namibian police force and the Namibian military. The weapons, which include pistols and fully automatic AK-47 rifles, have become a “lifeline” for gangs seeking greater firepower that is difficult to obtain legally.
According to Hyman, the smuggling route is primarily operated by two South African trucking companies that specialize in transporting perishable goods like fruit and flowers. The time-sensitive nature of their cargo provides excellent cover for regularly crossing borders undetected. These companies are also allegedly involved in trafficking other illicit goods, including diamonds and wildlife. The owners of these companies are said to have links, including family ties, to certain Western Cape gangs.
The issue first came to light in October 2020, when 12 Namibian police pistols were discovered during a roadblock in Cape Town. The suspect arrested, a Namibian national was later sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in an unrelated case involving the 2020 break-in at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s residence, Phala Phala Lodge.
This discovery sparked an investigation that led to the arrest of four Namibian police officers in 2022. A significant hurdle was uncovered during this process: the Namibian police did not have an electronic firearms database. The only record of stolen weapons was a handwritten list compiled by one of the arrested officers, which later formed the basis of a new digital system. Namibian police sources now claim the theft of police firearms is “no longer seen a problem” due to this new management system.
However, Hyman indicated that weapons sourced from the Namibian military may be an even larger concern, citing alleged resistance from the Namibian Ministry of Defence against external oversight and the military-grade nature of the weapons. The proliferation is so significant that Namibian groups in Cape Town are allegedly offering a “two-for-one special” on AK-47s, selling two rifles for 40,000 rand—the typical black-market price for a single weapon.
A recent court case in Ventershoek in August saw nine people arrested for the theft of 16 firearms, including AK-47s, from a Namibian military stockpile. One of the suspects was an employee of one of the two South African trucking companies implicated in the report.
The findings come as the acting police minister decried the ease with which these weapons are available in the province. Western Cape Police Commissioner Thembisile Patekile was quoted in February of this year, noting the recovery of many AK-47s and confirming that such weapons are not licensed in South Africa.
When asked about the capacity to stem the flow of illegal weapons, Hyman suggested the challenge may lie less in intelligence and more in the administration of justice. He cited a case from November last year where an alleged Namibian man arrested in Gugulethu with an AK-47 was released on bail and subsequently absconded, highlighting potential failings in the criminal justice process.
The Global Initiative asserts that while the routes and methods of smuggling are known, addressing the problem will require tackling capacity, regulatory, and policing issues within the criminal justice system.
