WESTERN CAPE – During the evening of Saturday, 17 January 2026, members of the Maitland Flying Squad were recovering a hijacked vehicle in the Lloyds area of Nyanga when they saw a Toyota Hilux passing them.
Due to an earlier general broadcast about a vehicle that was hijacked in the Mfuleni area, they recognised the registration number as that of the hijacked vehicle.
The suspects collided with the fence of a house, jumped out, and ran away. A chase ensued, and the members arrested one suspect. The Hilux was searched, and two 9mm firearms, one without a serial number, were found inside the vehicle, including a jammer device.
A 22-year-old suspect was detained at Nyanga SAPS on charges of possession of a hijacked vehicle, possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition.
The suspect will appear in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court once he is charged.
In an unrelated matter, members attached to Operation Shanela II arrested a 37-year-old male on Sunday, 18 January 2026, at 09:20 for possession of a prohibited firearm and ammunition. They received intelligence about a person in possession of a firearm at a premises in Du Toits Kloof Street, Tafelsig, and immediately operationalised the information. A thorough search of the premises and occupant revealed a zip gun with a 9mm round of ammunition hidden in the walls of the toilet.
Once charged, he will appear in the Mitchells Plain Magistrates’ Court for the mentioned charges.
