The Provincial Commissioner of Police, Lieut-Gen Semakaleng Manamela, reiterated the police’s commitment to remove unlicensed firearms and ammunition from society.
According to a statement, Khoasi Rantso (52) and Tumelo Lebanjoa (29) were arrested in Standerton on Sunday, June 19.
Secunda Flying Squad spotted a suspicious black Honda sedan during patrol.
It had Lesotho number plates. They stopped the vehicle and the two occupants fled on foot, but were apprehended.
A 9mm pistol with 15 rounds of ammunition were found in the vehicle.
One of the suspects was in possession of legal documents to be in South Africa.
The Department of Home Affairs is working with police on this matter.
The firearm will be taken for ballistic testing to determine whether it was used in other crimes.
The suspects appeared in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on June 20 in connection with being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The case was postponed to June 23 and the suspects were remanded in custody.
“We are encouraged by the impact we are making in terms of retrieving firearms from the wrong hands,” Lieut-Gen Manamela said.
“We are hopeful that we will stabilise and reduce violent crimes in the province.”