WESTERN CAPE - The proliferation of illegal firearms in the Western Cape remains a priority with various teams embarking on Crime combatting operations during the weekend which yielded positive results.

Yesterday, Sunday, 15 January 2023, members attached to Provincial Extortion Task Team acted on information of a firearm being kept at a premises at Tony Yengeni Street, Cross Roads, Nyanga. Members pounced on the premises where they accosted the 64-year-old owner who cooperated and granted the members access to the premises and to continue with a search. Members confiscated a 9mm Nirinco pistol with 4 rounds of ammunition that the owner fetched from a kitchen cupboard and handed over to the members. This resulted in the arrest of the owner who faces a charge of being in possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

In an unrelated incident on the same day, members deployed under Operation Restore followed up information of occupants of a blue Golf that is visiting mobile stores under suspicious circumstances. Members in search of the car and its occupants, spotted the car driving along Intsikizi Street, Crossroads. Upon seeing the police approaching, the driver sped off. The members gave chase and manage to pull over the vehicle shortly thereafter. They ensued with a search which led to the find of a .45 revolver, loaded with 6 rounds of ammunition.

The occupants could not provide any proof of legality and were arrested on a charge of the illegal; possession of a firearm and ammunition. The members arrested the 3 occupants between the ages 32 and 35 and seized the Golf as well as a small amount of cash.

All above suspects will appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ court, once charged.

Provincial management commended the members for their continued commitment to rid our streets from the scourge of illegal firearms that is killing our citizens.

Source: South African Police Service