A healthy relationship between loyal citizens and police in Mpumalanga has led to the recovery of two firearms and ammunition in Marite near Bushbuckrigde.
The firearms were recovered after police acted on a tipoff where two suspects aged 28 and 36 years were arrested separately in Marite near Hazyview on the morning of Tuesday 4 April 2023.
In the first incident, police were alerted about the suspect believed to be involved in armed robberies and was in possession of a firearm in the area. Members of the Police from Mpumalanga Tactical Response Team (TRT) based in Ehlanzeni District stormed into the suspect’s residence whereby a search was conducted which resulted in the firearm with ammunition recovered. The suspect could not produce a firearm licence hence to his arrest.
Whilst members were still busy on the scene, another information was received by the team about a second suspect who was in possession of unlicensed fiream within the same village. Police did not waste time but headed to the identified suspect’s residential address.
Upon searching the suspect’s residence, a firearm with seven live rounds was reportedly recovered wrapped with a black plastic bag and concealed under his bed. The suspect could not produce a firearm licence hence he was apprehended.
Both suspects are faced with charges in relation to possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition. More charges could possibly be added against the suspects as the investigation continues. The two are to appear in the Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 05 April 2023.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has praised the informants and urges the community to work in collaboration with the police in the fight against crime.
