WESTERN CAPE – Efforts to eradicate the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition in our communities led to the arrest of several suspect for the mentioned charges.

On 07 October 2021 at approximately 23:30 members of the Anti-Gang Unit deployed in the Bishop Lavis policing precinct spotted a suspicious looking male carrying an object on the corners of Vanguard and Bonteheuwel Avenue, when the members approached the male he fled on foot. The members chased the male to a premises in Citrus Street, where he was caught. The object that he had in his possession was found to be a. 22 calibre rifle. The male could not produce positive identification to be legally in possession of such a firearm.

The 40-year-old suspect from Bonteheuwel, was arrested and detained for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

On 08 October 2021 members of the Anti-Gang Unit followed up information of possible illegal firearms and ammunition being kept on a premises in Teak Road, in the Bishop Lavis policing precinct. Two pistols, one 9mm and one 7.65 pistol were recovered including ammunition for various firearms. The serial numbers of both firearms were removed. A 34-year-old male was arrested for possession of prohibited firearms and for the unlawful possession of ammunition.

Both suspects are affiliated to a gang.

In an unrelated matter Gugulethu SAPS members received information this morning from the public of a suspicious male who had a firearm on him in BK542 Barcelona. The information was followed up and a suspect fitting the description was apprehended and searched by the members and found in possession of a 9mm firearm and nine rounds of ammunition. He was arrested on charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

The arrested suspects will appear respectively in the Bishop Lavis and Athlone Magistrate’s courts on Monday, 11 October 2021 on the mentioned charges.

Meanwhile early this morning members of the Kensington Crime Prevention Unit stopped a suspicious vehicle in 6th Avenue Kensington and identified the driver who evaded arrest. Upon searching the vehicle the members found a .38 special revolver with ammunition in the vehicle. Further information revealed that the vehicle was stolen on a Woodstock case. Kensington Detectives are following up on all leads to trace the suspect.

The Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile commended the members on their swift action, and expressed his satisfaction that these criminals were stopped in their tracks from committing more crimes.

Source: South African Police Service