Mine raid yields unlicensed firearm

Man at mine in Westonaria arrested for possession of an illegal firearm.

Mine security personnel were conducting a raid for illegal connections but ran into a suspicious man with a firearm. Photo: pixabay.com

The mine security personnel at the Cooke 2 gold mine conducted an underground raid in which they arrested a man, 42, for being in possession of an unlicensed firearm.

The raid was held on Monday, 20 February when mine security officers were conducting their routine duties which included disconnecting illegal underground electricity connections.

While locating illegal connections, the officers spotted a suspicious-looking man. When they approached him, the man started to run. They then noticed that he was in possession of a firearm. They subsequently caught up with him, disarmed him and then arrested him.

“The firearm was seized, and the suspect was charged with being in possession of an unlicensed firearm. He made a brief court appearance in the Westonaria Magistrates’ Court on 22 February,” said Sergeant Linkie Lefakane, Bekkersdal Police’s spokesperson.

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