WESTERN CAPE – With firearm related crime in their sights, members of the Provincial Integrated Task Team took to the streets last night and pursued intelligence of an armed suspect in Simanye informal settlement in Lwandle. The identified premises was searched with led to the discovery on a prohibited pistol, a rifle magazine and a variety of ammunition. The suspect, a 32-year-old man was arrested.

Lookdown II members arrested four suspects for the possession of an unlicensed 7.65 pistol, 59 rounds of ammunition and an imitation firearm yesterday after an armed robbery was foiled. The members received a tipoff that suspects in a white VW Polo were planning to perpetrate a business robbery in Parow, and monitored the area. The suspects fled when they spotted police presence but were apprehended on the R300.

In an unrelated police intervention in Kensington last night a 26-year-old man was arrested for the possession of an unlicensed revolver and ammunition. Also in Kensington members of the Flying Squad reacted on information and conducted a search in the yard of a residence, which resulted in the discovery of a .45 revolver. The firearm was confiscated while the suspect is still being sought.

Yesterday members of Wolseley SAPS responded to a shooting incident in Tulbagh and spotted the suspects fleeing the area in a white Toyota Corolla. While pursuing the vehicle, the members noticed that a firearm was thrown through the window, which was later discovered. The two suspects were eventually caught near the graveyard in Wolseley and arrested.

In Gansbaai two suspects were also arrested, for the possession of an unlicensed 9mm pistol and ammunition.

The suspects are expected to make their court appearances in the respective courts once they have been charged.

Source: South African Police Service