GAUTENG – Crime prevention members were on patrol yesterday, 14 June 2021 at about 18:30 along R41 (Main Reef road) near Rietvallei extension 2 and 3 when they spotted a suspicious looking vehicle.

The police stopped and pulled the vehicle over. As they conducted a body search on the driver and his vehicle, they of found a 9mm firearm with 17 rounds of ammunition in the suspect’s waist. The firearm’s serial number had been filed off.

The 30-year-old suspect tried to bribe the police with R800 cash and was put under arrest and later detained at Kagiso SAPS.

The station commander of Kagiso Police, Brigadier Themba Maduna has applauded his members for their vigilance and pro-activeness. “These are firearms which cause a lot of fear and instability in our communities as people are killed and robbed on daily basis. The successful removal of that firearm from wrong hands has prevented another violent and deadly crime,” he concluded.

The suspect has been charged with unlawful possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition as well as bribery.

He is expected to appear briefly in the Kagiso magistrate’s court soon. The recovered firearm will be sent for ballistic testing to determine if it was used in any violent crimes before.

Source: South African Police Service