Samuel Totoloane, Thomas Kanyile, Mabhulu Mqandela and Spenathi Manqathi were arrested on July 17, last year, when Crystal Park SAPS members stopped a suspicious-looking vehicle driving along Harry Gwala Street.
“The SAPS members called for back-up when they saw that the vehicle was not going to stop, and eventually managed to pull it over on Putfontein Road, Cloverdene,” said Crystal Park SAPS spokesperson Tryna Maritz.
The police searched the vehicle as well as the five occupants and found three .38 special revolvers and one 9mm pistol on the passengers. The driver was found with live ammunition in his possession.
“Three of the firearms found had the numbers filed off and one of the 38 special revolvers was traced back to Bethlehem, where it had been reported as stolen,” Maritz said.
Although police arrested five suspects, one of the men was deported and his case was subsequently dropped.
Totoloane was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, while the other three were sentenced to six years. All four were declared unfit to possess a firearm.
“The station commander, Lieut-Col Belinda Motaung, and the branch commander, Capt Glen Whitford, were pleased with the outcome of the court case and thanked the investigating officer, WO Matthews Makofane for his dedication to the case, and the Vispol members who were responsible for the arrests,” added Maritz.
