The Acting National Commissioner of Police Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola has applauded the detection and seizure of and assortment of over 40 high caliber firearms as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition in Vanderbijlpark on 19 December 2019.
Members from Vanderbijlpark in the early hours arrived at a house to attend to a complaint that is related to domestic violence, and then uncovered the arms cache.
A female complainant called the police as she was having a dispute at her home. While the police were inside the house, their observation and focus led to the discovery of 43 firearms of different calibers and approximately 2000 ammunition, some concealed in containers.
This seizure comes in the midst of a period of the firearm amnesty which begun on 1 December 2019, and will run until 31 May 2020. “It is very encouraging that our members continue to look out for illegal guns and ammunition even whilst the amnesty period is in place,” said Lieutenant General Masemola.
“We have embarked on a nationwide campaign to encourage people that are illegally in possession of or have unwanted arms and ammunition to take advantage of this amnesty period to hand them over to police without fear of prosecution,” added Lieutenant General Masemola.
People are cautioned that should they be found in possession of the guns by police as opposed to voluntarily surrender, they cannot rely on the amnesty period for exoneration from prosecution.
A 31 year old man has been arrested for being illegally in possession of the majority of the 43 firearms and 2000 rounds of ammunition and will face prosecution in terms or the Firearm Control Act and the punishment for this could be a long jail sentence.
The weapons found in his possession include rifles, shotguns and pistols. An investigation is already underway to determine the origin of these arms and ammunition and more importantly, to establish if they could have been used in the commission of an offence.
The suspect is expected to appear at Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court soon, facing charges of possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
More information can be obtained from the local police station or by contacting the Central Firearms Registry (CFR) Call Centre at 012-353 6111.
We continue to appeal to anyone who may have information on crime to contact the SAPS Crime Stop number 086 00 10111. We also encourage people to download the MySAPS App on an iPhone or Android. This App will allow users to provide tip-offs among others. These mediums will allow callers to remain anonymous and all information will be treated with strictest confidence.
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