Police conduct an inspection on businessman Calvin Mathibeli's work premises.

• Police have found that the Calvin and Family Security Service’s firearms register was improperly completed in pencil, which can be easily erased, instead of the required permanent ink.
• The security company is missing 35 firearms, with only 815 guns accounted for, despite records indicating they should have more than 850 weapons.
• Mathibeli responded that the information provided to the media was misleading and appeared to have been “unlawfully leaked”.
  

National police conducting a firearms compliance inspection at security boss Calvin Mathibeli’s business premises in Durban North on Thursday morning say they discovered that a firearms register, which should be completed in ink, was filled out in pencil.

They said Calvin and Family Security Service, which, according to police records, should have more than 850 guns, only had 815 firearms recorded in their books.

The ongoing inspection is part of Operation Buyisa.

The police notified Mathibeli about the planned operation.

However, on Tuesday, Mathibeli approached the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban to block the interdict to prevent them from executing the inspection.

The court dismissed his application on the basis that it was not urgent.

READ | Durban businessman loses court bid to halt SAPS firearm compliance inspection

In opposing court papers, Lieutenant Colonel Boitumelo Ramahlaha defended the police’s actions, saying inspections targeted companies “holding more than 500 firearms” and “the applicant falls within that category”, because his business owned in excess of 800 firearms.

The police descended on the premises on Thursday.

Speaking to the media outside the premises during the operation, KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said it had been uncovered that Mathibeli, as the owner of the company who should be responsible for the firearms in his business, had delegated this responsibility to another person.

“Eleven of the company’s guns are currently at Inanda SAPS after they were taken from a security company that was operating in Cato Manor. That still needs to be verified because we must go to our 13 SAPS stores in Inanda to check if those firearms are there.”

Regarding the discrepancy between the number of guns reflected in the company’s records versus what police have recorded, Netshiunda said:

He added that the company had sites in four provinces.

In KwaZulu-Natal, they have two more sites in Newcastle in addition to the one in Durban North.

“They have a site in Gauteng, Limpopo, and the Western Cape as well. If we don’t get those firearms here today, that means this operation must go to all those sites they are saying they have.”

READ | KZN security boss ordered to retract, take down statements against Mkhwanazi

Netshiunda said what was of concern was that the company’s firearms register was not properly completed.

“Firearms will move from one place to another without proper documentation detailing how many were moved, as well as their serial numbers and who received them, because there must be signatures for dispatching and receipt of the said firearms.”

He added that they were concerned about the firearms register that was completed in pencil.

“A pencil can be erased at any time. We are still operating, and we believe that once we are done, we will be able to connect the dots, and if there are any wrongs, take the steps that need to be taken.”

Netshiunda warned that anything related to firearms was serious.

“Firearms kill people; they are used in robberies, CIT heists, so anything that has to do with firearms is serious. There are serious implications to the point that we can confiscate all the firearms and ensure that the licence is revoked if the findings are so severe that he can’t be fined or anything of that sort.”

Asked about the police’s comments on the inspection, Mathibela told News24 that the information provided to the media was misleading and appeared to have been “unlawfully leaked”.

“For the sake of clarity, the company has a total of 857 registered firearms, of which we have taken possession of 815,” he stated.

“The remaining firearms are newly purchased and are still with the respective dealers as we are awaiting the issuance of licences from SAPS before we can lawfully collect them.”

Mathibela said this information was fully disclosed to police officers during the inspection.

He added:

Regarding the use of a pencil when completing the stock register, Mathibeli said police officials had consistently guided this practice over the past 12 years.

“Throughout numerous inspections conducted during this period, the company has never been found to be non-compliant.

“During the inspection conducted on 7 January 2026 by the KZN provincial DFOs [designated firearms officer], we were found to be fully compliant.”

Mathibela added that the company had at all times adhered to the instructions and guidance provided by the police and remained “committed to full compliance with all regulatory requirements”.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with additional information from the police as well as comment from Mathibeli.