A gun owner is to bring an application to have the Paterson police held in contempt of court after they ignored a court order to return his firearms after they were seized as part of an ongoing investigation into questionable training certificates.
While the Paterson police have indicated they will be appealing the judgment, handed down in the Pretoria high court on October 17, AfriForum has appointed a law firm, on behalf of Jacques Verwey, to have the Paterson police held in contempt.
Verwey is one of hundreds of legal firearm owners at risk of losing their guns because they did their firearms training through gun dealer Karen Webb, who is under investigation for a long list of firearm-related charges.
“I am very unhappy and I feel unsafe. I am a law-abiding citizen and went through the trouble of obtaining my firearms legally so that I can protect myself, my family and my employees,” Verwey said.
“The police have no right to keep my weapons, as per the court order.
“So why am I still being punished when I did nothing wrong?”
The 55-year-old’s woes started in August when the Paterson police contacted him to bring his three licensed firearms to the station as he was one of 1,800 people under investigation for having done their firearms competency training through now defunct Webb’s Arms.
On the police’s advice, he repeated the training through another service provider, but was unable to resubmit his training certificates and reapply for his firearm licences because according to the SA Police Service system, he was still fully licenced for the hunting rifle, shotgun and revolver.
Verwey reached out to Afriforum, which appointed Gauteng-based law firm Hurter Spies Attorneys to approach the court via an urgent application.
An order was made for the Paterson police to return his firearms.
The order set a precedent for hundreds of other firearm owners who did their training through Webb’s Arms.
However, according to Verwey, the designated firearms officer in Paterson said he was under strict orders from police superiors not to give Verwey his guns back, and SAPS legal services were appealing the judgment.
This prompted AfriForum to once again approach the court.
AfriForum legal and risk manager Marnus Kamfer said the police were breaking the law and putting people’s faith in the justice system at risk.
“It is scary to see the SAPS is completely disregarding a court order.
“They are in contempt of court and actually breaking the law.
“The way people perceive and understand law and order is hanging in the balance, and they are hurting their own public image,” Kamfer said.
Kamfer said AfriForum was bringing an urgent application to hold the police in contempt of court and to force the SAPS to adhere to the order granted in October.
“Our attorneys were notified that the police intend to appeal the court order, and once we have more clarity on that process we will file opposing papers.
“Regardless of the appeal, the police should have returned Verwey’s firearms.
“Should their appeal be successful, they will be well within their rights to seize them again, but until the initial order is overturned, the police are clearly in contempt,” Kamfer said.
He said it was an important matter as it impacted the entire community of legal firearm owners, especially those drawn into the Webb saga.
“This entire process by the police has been malicious towards legal firearm owners.
“It smacks of over-regulation and targeting low-hanging fruit, and we cannot allow this to happen,” Kamfer said.
Verwey, who operates a scrap metal and recycling business, said he felt like there was a target on his back.
“This is a risky and unsafe business at the best of times.
“Now people know I have been disarmed, I feel like I am constantly looking over my shoulder,” he said.
“I don’t blame the Paterson police. This is a small community, and I know them well.
“They are following orders and I can’t hold that against them.
“But their superiors are breaking the law and need to be held accountable.”
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