Five women were arrested for being in possession of firearms, ammunition, loaded magazines and a hand grenade in Cravesse Sreet, Tafelsig, on Sunday May 21, at 5.30pm.
The police found a M26 hand grenade, one Breda Brescia 12-gauge shotgun, loaded with live ammunition, of which the serial number was still intact, and one Breda Brescia shotgun of which the serial number was filed off.
They also found two magazines, both loaded with 15, 9mm live ammunition, a large quantity of various types of shotgun rounds, a large quantity of R5 assault rifle live ammunition, one empty 9mm magazine, one .22 empty magazine and a large quantity of 9mm live ammunition.
According to Philippi police spokesperson Captain Lance Goliath, the explosive unit of the police was called in to defuse the hand grenade and shotguns.
“Metal detectors and the dogs of the K9 unit were used to further sweep the premises for any illegal objects. More arrests are expected,” he said.
The suspects are due to appear in the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court once charged under the Firearms and Ammunition Act.
Captain Goliath said the arrest came just a day after a stakeholders’ engagement by Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Khombinkosi Jula and his management, various police clusters, community police forums, leaders of communities and other government departments was held but a stone’s throw from the crime scene.
“Part of the agenda of the stakeholder engagement was to strengthen the partnership and narrow the gap of trust between police and the community.
“Mitchell’s Plain station commander Brigadier Cass Goolam, who attended to the crime scene, also engaged with the chairperson of his CPF and 19 of the neighbourhood watch members who guarded the outside perimeters of the crime scene,” he said.
A 20-year-old man, believed to be a gang member, was arrested in Renoster Street, Eastridge, last week for being in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Members of the Mitchells Plain police firearm, liquor and second goods (FLASH) unit arrested the man on Friday May 19, at 10.30am. At the time they had been conducting a joint liquor operation with law enforcement officers, in Klipspringer Street.
Police spokesperson Constable Nozuko Makwayiba said there had been a high speed chase after officers spotted the man in Renoster Street. “The members pursued the suspect and they saw him throw a pistol in a yard. The suspect was apprehended and the members confiscated a Tauris 9mm with eight rounds of ammunition,” she said.
The man will appear soon in the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrate’s Court on charges relating to possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
He will appear in court soon.
A man, aged 29, was arrested for being in possession of a black imitation firearm in Bayern Munich Street in Tafelsig, on Sunday May 21.
Police had been conducting crime prevention operators at 12.25am, when they spotted the man in the street. They chased him and found the firearm in his possession. He will appear in court soon.
A 28-year-old man was arrested for being in possession of 41 packets of tik, 11 half mandrax tablets, seven whole mandrax tablets and an undisclosed amount of money in Simonsberg Street, on Sunday May 21. Police had been conducting a stop-and-search operation around 1.40am when they noticed the man walking in the road. Upon searching him, they found the drugs.
To report crime, residents can call Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or the local police station on
021 370 1706.
