Gauteng police commissioner orders a probe into the possession of an illegal high-calibre firearm by students at a gathering in Braamfontein

The Provincial Commissioner of police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has ordered an urgent probe into an illegal high-caliber firearm that was found on Wednesday afternoon, 17 March 2021 in the possession of two students in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

Police have for the past week been on high alert monitoring protests by students of various tertiary institutions in Gauteng Province, particularly in Johannesburg. A Crime Intelligence report about a dangerous weapon was operationalised and led police to a gathering in Braamfontein where students were in attendance. It is at this gathering where members observed two students in Stiemens Street carrying an automatic rifle. The officers kept a close watch and saw the pair drive off in a vehicle. The car was followed and ultimately stopped by the Johannesburg Flying Squad and the Tactical Response Team in Auckland Park.

Police searched and found in the vehicle a Galil, an automatic rifle of Israeli-make, with a loaded magazine.
A 24-year old male suspect and a 21-year old female suspect were arrested immediately and are expected to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate Court in due course on two charges of possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition; and possession of a dangerous weapon.

“This goes to prove the magnitude of the problem police is facing in terms of the proliferation of illegal firearms. That this could be in the arms of a student is worrisome, notwithstanding the question why a firearm of this caliber was brought to a gathering of students in the first place,” cited the Provincial Commissioner.