HARRISMITH – The passenger charged with possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunitions, Vincent Mayaba (36) from Estcourt in KwaZulu-Natal made his first appearance in Harrismith Magistrate court yesterday and was issued bail of R1000-00 and is expected to appear again in the same court on 08 April 2022.

The police have arrested the 36-year-old man from Kwazulu-Natal in a taxi for possession of illegal firearm and ammunitions during police roadblock that was conducted on the N3 on Monday to address crime.

On 28 February 2022 at approximately 10:20 the Rapid Rail Police Unit deployed at Harrismith conducted stop and search on the N3 at Emoyeni with the aim of addressing various crimes depended on police actions.

Apparently, they stopped a minibus taxi with GP registration on the north bound headed to Gauteng Province. Whilst they were busy searching the passengers, they came across a passenger from Estcourt who was in possession of a firearm. He carried a Norinco 9mm pistol with serial number visible and one magazine with five bullets. He failed to produce a licence to possess the firearm and was arrested and the firearm seized as exhibit and for further forensic ballistic analysis.

The suspect is expected to appear before the Harrismith Magistrate court soon facing charges of illegal possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Source: South African Police Service