Police in Gauteng continue to make inroads in the recovery of illegal firearms in line with the SAPS resolve to bring down the volumes of aggravated crimes through curbing the proliferation of illegal firearms. In the past seven days, police recovered more than 40 firearms that include automatic rifles and pistols in different parts of Gauteng, while more than 480 rounds of ammunition were also seized.
Three security guards were arrested in Heriotdale in Germiston, Ekurhuleni District, after they were found with six illegal firearms. Members from Germiston police station were patrolling on Friday 07 May 2021 when they spotted a Toyota Quantum full of security guards. They stopped the combi and suddenly the security guards jumped out and fled on foot. Three of them were apprehended, upon searching the combi police found six unlicensed firearms with ammunition.
In Silverton, Tshwane District, police officers from Tracing Task Team and Crime Prevention received information about a vehicle that was used in a business robbery at Spar, Tsamaya road in Mamelodi. Police pounced on the suspects at their hideout on Friday 07 May 2021. Two suspects aged 24 and 36 were apprehended while three escaped and evaded arrest. Inside the house police found an AK-47 rifle with ammunition. Two vehicles suspected to be stolen and being used in the robbery were seized.
Still in Tshwane District, police arrested four suspects in Olievenhoutbosh after they were found with two unlicensed firearms. On Friday 07 May 2021 at about 17h00 information was received about suspects in possession of unlicensed firearms planning to commit armed robberies. Members of South African Police Service and Tshwane Metro Police Department followed up on information from Olievenhoutbosch until Attridgeville where the first suspect was arrested after he was found with an unlicensed firearm that was reported stolen in Erasmia in October 2018. The team found three more suspects inside a Toyota Avanza where an unlicensed firearm loaded with ammunition was also recovered.
In Bekkersdal, West Rand District, police arrested two suspects who were found with three unlicensed firearms and ammunition during a high density operation conducted on Friday 07 May 2021.
Five suspects were arrested in Turfontein, Johannesburg District, in the early hours of Saturday 08 May 2021, for possession of unlicensed firearm and dangerous weapon. Police were patrolling in Turfontein when they noticed a white BMW driving slowly. The members pulled over the vehicle and as they searched the occupants and vehicle, two unlicensed firearms were found.
Other firearms were recovered during intelligence driven operations around Gauteng.
The Provincial Commissioner of the police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela commended the law enforcement agencies who continue to rise to the occasion in response to efforts to bring down the volumes of serious and violent crimes often perpetrated at gunpoint.
"The volumes of illegal firearms recovered by our members is a clear indication that we still have many firearms in the wrong hands. This is a key measure which can assist us in dealing decisively with aggravated crimes in Gauteng," remarked the Commissioner urging members of the integrated law enforcement agencies in the Province to sustain the momentum.