The firearms were described by the Katlehong SAPS’s Media spokesperson Constable Sive Mtwa, as two rifles, one shotgun, one pistol and 1 200 rounds of lie ammunition.
The arrest was the result of information received by members of the provincial head office (PHO) in Gauteng and the Unit for Serious Violent Crimes (SVC) about a suspect, who was a person of interest, having unlicensed firearms and live ammunition.
The police teams, with the assistance of members of the local police, visited the home of the suspect in Spruitiew, but could not find him.
With the help of reliable police informants, the police learnt the suspect was in Pretoria. The suspect at the time received a tip-off police were on their way to pick him up from where he was in the capital city.
Upon realising the police were in pursuit, the suspect called his lawyer, who escorted him to the police where he handed himself over in the presence of his legal representative. The police then demanded to search the suspects’ vehicle.
The search yielded positive results when the officers found various calibres of firearms and live ammunition covered under a blanket inside the boot of his car. The suspect could not produce licenses for the firearms and ammunition.
The suspect was placed under arrest and later charged with having unlicensed firearms and ammunition under Section 60 of 2000 of the Firearms Control Act.
The police sent all the confiscated firearms and ammunition for ballistic testing to determine if it was used in the commission of crime.
The suspect will appear at Palm Ridge Magistrate Court soon.
The station commander of SAPS Katlehong, Brigadier Albertina Vesi, welcomed the recovery of the firearms and ammunition and the arresting the suspect. She extended her plea to the community to continue providing the police with vital information about crimes.
Vesi requested the public to convey all information about firearm peddling and dealing to the Crime App – MySAPS app or direct all such information anonymously on the MySAPS App or directly call the SAPS Crime Office on 011 617 3686 or Crime-Stop at 08600 10111.
All information received will be kept strictly confidential.
