DURBAN - Security firm, KZN VIP Protection Services has had all the firearms that were seized by the police after the July unrest, returned to them.
This is in terms of orders handed down by the Durban High Court. The most recent order was made on Friday.
The security company approached the court last month to compel the state to disclose why it was keeping the firearms and to have the firearms returned. When the matter was heard in court, the police agreed to and returned all of the firearms except two.
In terms of an order handed down on Friday, these two firearms need to be returned to the firm.
Attorney Anand Nepaul, who acted for KZN VIP, said the police had been given until 2pm tomorrow to deliver the two firearms.
Several of the security firm’s firearms were seized by the police for ballistics analysis.
Lirandzu Themba, the spokesperson for the police ministry, told The Mercury’s sister paper The Post in August that four security companies were being investigated by the SAPS and the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Psira) for their roles in the violence in Phoenix.
One of the firm was KZN VIP Security, said Themba.
During a media briefing at the time, Police Minister Bheki Cele said a team of investigators had seized 152 firearms from four private security companies working in the area.
He said the seizure of the firearms was within the ambit of the Firearms Control Act.
Glen Naidoo, who has since resigned from the family run security company, said in a statement: “As most of you know during the unrest KZN VIP had all its firearms confiscated by the police after some very, very serious, damning and defamatory allegations made by the Minister of Police against several security companies in Phoenix.”
He said the return of the firearms had vindicated the company.
“KZN VIP has always maintained its innocence because our history and track record have shown the same, we serve humanity,” he said.
Speaking to The Mercury today, Naidoo questioned where the minister could have received his information from.
“We are saddened by the way we have been treated as criminals and we have been defamed,” he said.
Naidoo said when the minister named innocent people in connection with their investigation, the narrative of the unrest changed to a racial one.
“They have defamed us, we have lost a lot of business,” he said, adding the situation has been emotionally draining for his family.
KZN VIP thanked members of the public who stood by their side.
“KZN VIP would like to thank you for your continued support and encouragement,” said the statement.
THE MERCURY