Deputy mayor gunfire: Taurus pistol or toy replica?

Update

PLETTENBERG BAY - A week after a viral video appeared to show Bitou deputy mayor Nokuzola Kolwapi discharging a handgun during her son Tsepiso's umgidi homecoming ceremony in Sajini Street, Kwanokuthula, on 21 December, debate continues over whether the weapon was a real firearm or a toy replica.

Kolwapi has maintained that the object was a replica toy gun, framing the act as a symbolic gesture of women "taking back power" in a cultural context amid South Africa's gender-based violence crisis.

Community-recorded videos from the event, widely shared on social media since 21 December, show Kolwapi dancing and firing multiple shots into the air amid a crowd, including children.

Additional footage allegedly depicts her bodyguard, Mphuthumi Mase, taking the weapon and someone collecting spent cartridges from the ground.

Forensic firearm expert

However, forensic firearm expert Jannie van der Westhuizen, CEO of Wesco Forensic Services with over 35 years of experience, analysed circulating videos and concluded the weapon displayed characteristics of a semi-automatic Taurus PT92 pistol, capable of firing 9x19mm Parabellum rounds.

He noted apparent ejection of cartridge cases, indicating that toy firearms do not eject cartridges.

Van der Westhuizen stressed that discharging a firearm in a public or residential area without justification is a serious offence under the Firearms Control Act, potentially leading to charges of reckless endangerment (Section 120(3)(b)), pointing a firearm (Section 120(6)), or unlawful possession.

Penalties could include fines, imprisonment up to 15 years, licence revocation, and a declaration of unfitness to possess firearms.

In response to questions from the Knysna Plett Herald he said the weapon, any recovered cartridges, and video evidence should be submitted to the SAPS Forensic Laboratory for ballistic comparison and microscopic analysis.

He also advised scrutinising all videos to count shots fired and collecting primer residue tests promptly, though it's unclear at this stage whether it was done immediately after the shooting incident.

Ongoing police investigation

Southern Cape SAPS spokesperson Warrant Officer Christopher Spies confirmed an active probe into charges of discharging a firearm in a municipal area and pointing a firearm.

The cases were opened on 21 December by Non-aligned Civic Movement (NACM) co-founder Welcome Tshala, who cited concerns for public safety, particularly children's.

As of 27 December, no arrests had been made, and Spies emphasised that the investigation "cannot be conducted in the media or public domain. We can confirm that a team was assembled last week by the office of the Garden Route District Commissioner to lead the investigation that is underway, "said Spies.

The docket will be forwarded to the National Prosecuting Authority upon completion.

Last week there were suggestions from community leaders that the case was transferred from Kwanokuthula police station to Plettenberg Bay.

Spies said this was not the case.

“The matter was not transferred to the Plettenberg Bay police station as indicated . “Investigation reveals that it (allegedly) occurred in the Kwanokuthula policing precinct and therefore cannot be transferred to another station.”

Asked when the docket will be finalised, Spies said:

“This office is not at liberty to indicate when and how administrative processes with other departments unfold, due to the technical nature thereof. “

Political and community reactions

Questions have also been asked about the Bitou Speaker Mavis Busakwe’s impartiality to driving any investigation into Kolwapi, should this serve before Bitou council.

Busakwe was captured in a screenshot of a video taken by bystanders at the ceremony.

She was asked by the Knysna Plett Herald whether she had witnessed the alleged firing of the gun, but did not respond to that question.

Bitou Speaker Mavis Busakwe and deputy mayor Nokuzola Kolpwapi. Photo: Chris van Gass

She did however respond to another question, laying out the procedures and processes that should be followed in such cases before the council.

She said council was in recess. The next scheduled Bitou council meeting is on 14 January.

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, including from the Western Cape ANC, which called for Kolwapi's arrest and removal, describing her actions as "hooligan" behaviour.

Gun advocacy groups labelled it reckless, and community leaders like Tshala argued it undermined efforts against gun violence.

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