Police members arrest suspects for possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition

On 14 September 2023 at about 15:00, Elsies River SAPS members followed up on information regarding a shooting incident that happened in 33rd Avenue, Elnor which led them to a premises in Thomas Avenue, Balvenie, Elsies River where they found four males near a white Tazz who are alleged to be involved in the shooting. When the members approached them the suspect moved away and threw an object over the fence. The members then searched for the object and found a black 9mm Caniki pistol with eleven 9mm rounds of ammunition. They subsequently arrested an 18-year-old suspect for the possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

In an unrelated intervention Police members of Operation Restore, deployed in Mitchells Plain area to conduct high density patrols on Thursday, 14 September 2023, were busy with patrols in Tafelsig when they responded to a complaint of a shooting incident in progress Whilst on their way to the location they saw a man who fitted the description, apprehended the man, searched him and confiscated an imitation firearm and a consignment of ammunition. They then arrested and detained a 21-year-old man on charges of possession of ammunition and the possession of an imitation firearm.

Once charged the suspects are expected to make their respective court appearances in the Goodwood and Mitchells Plain Magistrates court on the mentioned charges.

The seized firearms will undergo ballistic testing to determine whether it was used previously in the commission of crime elsewhere. More charges could possibly be added against the suspects as the investigation continues.

Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile has been elated by the rate in which arrests of suspects with firearms are made. The General further praised all members for working tirelessly to ensure that firearms are confiscated from the wrong hands. “The recovery of these firearms pave a way to achieve on our endeavour of tackling the proliferation of firearms in the society which is an issue that we are working on to address,” said the General.