Police in Gauteng in collaboration with various other law enforcement agencies has recovered over 300 unlicensed firearms and over 4500 ammunition collectively over the past two weeks. It is on this basis that Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela commended members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), other law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders for their concerted efforts in addressing serious and violent crime in the province.
On Sunday, 21 August 2022 police in Sedibeng District arrested two suspects on the N3 highway in Heidelberg for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. According to a preliminary report, a multi-disciplinary team of members from Crime Intelligence, Tactical Response Team (TRT) and metro police operationalised information they obtained on firearms being transported from KZN to Vosloorus in Gauteng. The suspects’ vehicles were successfully intercepted by the members. A search led the members to recover five unlicensed firearms and ammunition; both the drivers of the said vehicles were arrested.
In another district, police in Ekurhuleni swiftly acted on a community tip-off and arrested five suspects in Brakpan on Friday, 19 August 2022. The members recovered three unlicensed firearms and cellphones found in the possession of the suspects. On Wednesday, 17 August 2022 a 30-year-old suspect was arrested in Reigerpark for possession of an unlicensed firearm, ammunition and drugs following an intelligence-driven operation.
Members of Rapid Response Services (RRS), that include Gauteng Highway Patrol, Flying Squad and K9 units, have collectively recovered 22 unlicensed firearms between 12 and 18 August 2022.
All the recovered firearms are subjected to ballistic tests to establish whether they may be linked to other serious crime committed.
Community members are urged to report criminal activities to their nearest police station or submit tip-offs to SAPS Crime Stop Line 08600 10111 or alternatively on the My SAPS App.
