THREE private security guards who were caught on video discharging firearms in public were expected to appear in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court today (13 April). They handed themselves over to Hillcrest police yesterday.
Police were alerted to two separate videos of men discharging firearms in public went viral on social media.
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Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane, KZN SAPS spokesman said their firearms, suspected to have been used during the random shootings at Molweni recently, were also seized and will be subjected to ballistic tests to establish if they were used in the commission of any other crimes.
“The suspects aged between 37 and 40 were arrested after police opened a case of discharging of firearms in public following a video found circulating on social media where people were seen discharging their firearms randomly at Molweni,” said Zwane.
He added that Hillcrest police acted decisively and initiated an investigation that led to the arrest of three people, believed to be private security guards, who can be seen on video.
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In a separate incident, it is alleged that body guards discharged their firearms during a public meeting at a hall in Howick on Monday, 9 April 2018.
“A case of discharging of firearms in a public space was opened at Howick police station and a few days later three body guards were arrested and charged. The arrested men appeared at the Howick Magistrate’s Court yesterday and the case was remanded to 17 May 2018,” added Zwane.
The KwaZulu-Natal acting provincial commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa and his management have condemned the recent unlawful discharging of firearms in public at Howick and at Hillcrest.
“We will not tolerate such behaviour by people who randomly discharged their firearms whether at funerals, meetings or any other functions. I commend our police officers who acted swiftly and have arrested those who were involved in these unlawful behaviour,” said Langa.
He added that such people are putting the lives of others at risk as these stray bullets may strike innocent people in the process.
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