Four men were arrested for discharging firearms in a public area during a taxi owner’s funeral in Bhamshela, Upper Tongaat on Saturday.

The taxi boss had been gunned down at a taxi rank in Bhamshela on August 14.

His funeral was held at a sports ground in Mthuli and police officers from the Ilembe cluster and public order police were in the area to monitor the proceedings.

“Police heard gunshots at the funeral service and immediately responded leading to the arrest of four men,” said KZN police spokesperson Colonel Thembeka Mbele.

Mbele said three of the men, aged between 24 and 44, were arrested for firing their firearms in a public area.

Their licensed firearms were seized for further investigation.

A further 30-year-old man was arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm.

“The men were charged and appeared at the Maphumulo Magistrates Court today.

“All seized firearms will be subjected to ballistic testing to determine whether they were used to commit any other crimes,” said Mbele.

The SAPS spokesperson said they did not yet know why the firearms had been fired.

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