A 42-year-old man appeared in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court yesterday, after he was arrested and five unlicensed firearms recovered after an alleged domestic dispute on Saturday.

According to Warrant Officer Grant Giblin, the Benoni Flying Squad (BFS) spokesperson, Sergeant Jaco Powell and Constable Juan-Mare Eksteen responded to a complaint of a hostage situation in Racecourse View, The Stewards, at 10:00.

In a statement, Captain Nomsa Sekele, the spokesperson for the Benoni Police Station, said the victim and his wife reportedly got into an argument, which prompted the wife to phone her parents for assistance. The parents arrived at the house.

“While BFS officers were making their way to the address another call came through stating that shots had been fired at the address,” Giblin says.

“Upon their arrival, officers found a 26-year-old man had sustained a gunshot wound to the face, following a scuffle. His father-in-law was identified as the shooter. The victim suffered minor injuries to the cheek and ear… the father-in-law was arrested.

“A .38 revolver was found in his possession. He was unable to produce a valid licence for the firearm, which prompted BFS officers to search his vehicle where a shotgun and 47 live rounds of live ammunition were also found.”

While on the scene, the victim told officers that more unlicensed firearms are kept at the suspect’s home in Dalpark, Brakpan.

“Units were deployed to Augrabies Street where three firearms were found in the suspect’s garage,” explains Giblin.

“Twenty-six gas and blank pistols were also confiscated.”

The man is facing charges of attempted murder, discharging a firearm in public and being in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

The accused was released on R5 000 bail.