The police are conducting a compliance inspection at the premises of Calvin and Family Security Services in Durban North.
Image: Tumi Pakkies / Independent Newspapers
Police are conducting a compliance inspection, dubbed Operation Buyisa, at the Durban North business premises of businessman Calvin Mathibeli.
The raid on March 19 also serves to clarify the nature of their previous presence at his premises on February 13, which police confirm was also a compliance inspection.
Lieutenant Colonel Boitumelo Ramahlaha, the operational commander of Operation Buyisa, stated in an affidavit to the Durban High Court this week that the police were only able to complete approximately 5% of the initial inspection because they were denied access to the necessary registers and the main safe.
Ramahlaha's affidavit was submitted after Mathibeli filed an urgent High Court application seeking an interdict to prevent the police from conducting the inspection.
Mathibeli claimed the police's actions were ‘unlawful’ and would prejudice his company, Calvin and Family Security Services.
He further alleged that officers held his employees hostage and unlawfully seized 14 firearms without explanation on February 13, expressing fear of a “repeat of what happened in February”.
However, Acting Judge Dinesha Deeplal dismissed Mathibeli’s application, citing a lack of urgency, and ordered him to pay the application’s costs.
Ramahlaha detailed the events of February 13, stating that Mathibeli contacted him to say he and the person responsible for safe access were unavailable, with Mathibeli claiming to be overseas and the other person on leave.
Ramahlaha noted that he was provided access to the leave application form for the alleged responsible person.
“There is no confirmation that leave was approved.”
Durban businessman Calvin Mojalefa Mathibeli was recently dismissed by the Durban High Court for trying to interdict the SAPS from conducting a compliance inspection.
Image: Supplied
The February operation resulted in the seizure of four firearms and the arrest of two employees. One security guard was charged with unlawful possession of a pistol, as he lacked a competency certificate and a permit to possess a company firearm.
The second employee, a security guard in charge of the operational control room, was arrested for contravening the Firearm Controls Act. She was not an appointed responsible person or authorised in writing to issue firearms.
Ramahlaha explained that “her failure to produce the required documents led to her being in unlawful possession of lethal weapons.”
While the police were still on the premises on February 13, Mathibeli’s lawyer, Joe Strauss, called and insisted on a WhatsApp video call.
Ramahlaha recounted: “He indicated that his advice to the applicant (Mathibeli) was that he should cooperate.”
They both agreed the inspection would need to be postponed due to a lack of relevant access.
Businessman Calvin Mathibeli's property has received yet another visit from the SAPS.
Image: Tumi Pakkies / Independent Newspapers
On February 20, Ramahlaha spoke with Strauss, who inquired about rescheduling the inspection.
“I advised him that there is no obligation to give prior notice of an inspection, which he conceded. Nevertheless, asked for 72 hours' notice,” the police officer explained.
Despite this, an email was sent to Strauss on March 11, 2026, advising of the planned compliance inspection.
Ramahlaha clarified that the compliance inspection extends beyond just the firearms. It includes checking the safes to ensure they meet applicable SABS standards and are sufficient for the quantity of firearms stock.
Furthermore, it involves inspecting daily issuing registers to verify which firearm was issued, the number of ammunition rounds, what was returned, and whether any discharged ammunition was reported to the SAPS.