2022/2023 Safer Festive Season Operation continues to yield some positive results and this is evident by the arrest of a 30-year-old man on charges of being found in possession of unlicensed firearm with ammunition.
The man was nabbed at Mjindini Trust in Barberton on Tuesday, 6 December 2022 after members of the police from National Intervention Unit (NIU) followed up on some information provided by the Intelligence structure of the police in Mpumalanga.
Whilst Safer Festive Season Operation aims at providing safety for citizens during the festive season, the suspect’s arrest came as a breakthrough as it was discovered during preliminary investigation that he was wanted by the police for another crime committed this month (December 2022).
The recovery of the firearm with some ammunition in his possession further demonstrates the efforts by the police in dealing with proliferation of firearms which are mostly used in commission of violent crimes.
The man was charged for possession of unlicensed firearm as well as for possession of unlicensed ammunition. Preliminary investigation has since revealed that the suspect could have been involved in a house robbery incident which reportedly occurred at Barberton earlier this month (December 2022).
The firearm will undergo ballistic testing to determine whether it was not used in other crimes committed elsewhere. Hence the police cannot rule out the possibility of adding more charges against the suspect as the investigation continues. The suspect is expected to appear at the Barberton Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday 7 December 2022 facing the said charges.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has praised the members for their courageous spirit in fighting crime. The General further challenged members of the public to also play their part by providing information about wanted suspects or criminal activities being committed especially during this festive season. “We are forever ready to act on information that we may receive regarding crime or the whereabouts of wanted suspects and we trust that our communities will continue to work together with us which will benefit everyone” said the General.
