Police arrested a 39-year-old, male taxi driver for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition on the corner of Nugget and Helen Joseph (previously President) streets on 1 August at 1pm.
According to the police, officers were busy with routine crime prevention duties when they received a tip-off from a community member about a man in possession of an unlicensed firearm. They were told he was sitting inside a Quantum taxi with two men.
“Swift response by the police led to the arrest of a suspect and recovery of a firearm with live ammunition,” said Captain Xoli Mbele, the Johannesburg Central Police Station spokesperson. “Preliminary investigation revealed that firearm belongs to a security company. They then arrested a 35-year-old security guard for negligent handling of a firearm. He [allegedly] lent a taxi driver a company firearm issued to him to use while on duty.”
According to Mbele, a firearm is deemed unlicensed once it is in the possession of a person who has no license for the firearm. “Even though the firearm belonged to the security company and it’s licensed, it automatically becomes unlicensed since it was in the possession of the taxi driver and not the company,” he explained.
An investigation is under way and the suspects will appear in the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on 3 August.
Station Commander Brigadier Perumal commended the good working relationship between the police and the community. He urged the community to report crime happening in their precinct.
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