Police in Joubertina recovered and confiscated a cache of firearms and ammunition on a farm in Kouga yesterday, 2 December.
A 58-year-old man was also arrested.
According to Captain Mali Govender, polices spokesperson, the day-long investigation led members to a homestead on a farm in Kouga where several firearms, including two different calibres of rifles, two different calibres of shotgun, a pistol, a rifle shotgun combination and over 120 rounds of various ammunition were found. “After a thorough search of the farm, the stash were found in a room,” she said.
Investigators are working with ballistics to determine ownership of these arms as the serial numbers on some of them had been filed off. “The suspect faces a charge of possession of unlicensed firearms and unlawful possession of ammunition. He will appear in the local Magistrate’s court later this week.”
The Acting District Commissioner, Brigadier John Lebok, expressed his gratitude to the community for providing information which ultimately led to the discovery and the arrest.
“Community support is pivotal in our fight to eradicate the proliferation of illegal firearms. Being in possession of an unlicensed firearm is a criminal offence, and I urge other members of the community to use this amnesty period, which has been extended until 31 January 2021, to hand in all unwanted firearms and ammunition to your local police station, as it may free you from prosecution,” added Lebok.
The community is encouraged to report any knowledge that they may have on firearms that are being kept unlawfully to their nearest police station or on the Crime Stop number 08600 10111 anonymously.
