Police arrested several people across the iLembe District over the weekend targeting drug dealing, illegal firearms and violent crime.

The arrests, made between Friday and Sunday, included three suspected drug dealers in KwaDukuza, two men allegedly found with unlicensed firearms in Sundumbili and a father accused of attempting to murder his teenage son in Ndwedwe.

In KwaDukuza, suspects aged 26 and 27 were arrested in separate incidents in Dawnside, Glenhills and Groutville.

They were allegedly found in possession of rock cocaine, whoonga capsules and mandrax tablets.
The largest seizure was made in Groutville, where the 27-year-old suspect was allegedly found with 85 pieces of rock cocaine, 50 whoonga capsules and four mandrax tablets.

In Ndwedwe, police arrested a 35-year-old man after he allegedly stabbed his 14-year-old son during a domestic dispute in Ntaphuka on Sunday.

iLembe police spokesperson Priya Nunkumar said the man allegedly returned home intoxicated and became involved in an argument with his elderly mother.

“The suspect had come home under the influence of alcohol during the early hours of Sunday morning and got into an altercation with his elderly mother over food. When his 14-year-old son intervened to stop the dispute, the suspect allegedly took a knife and stabbed the teenager in the stomach,” said Nunkumar.

The boy was taken to a local clinic for treatment. Police arrested the suspect and recovered the knife allegedly used in the attack.

Meanwhile, Sundumbili police arrested two men in separate incidents in Mankenganeni on Sunday after they were allegedly found in possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

A 20-year-old suspect was allegedly found with a shotgun and five rounds of ammunition, while a 30-year-old man was arrested after police recovered a 9mm pistol and eight rounds of ammunition. Both firearms had their serial numbers removed and will undergo ballistic testing.

In a separate incident, a 39-year-old man was arrested for the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl in the Mhambuma area of Isithebe.

Police said the suspect, who was known to the victim, allegedly lured her to his home and raped her.
The teenager was later located by family members and taken for medical treatment.

The suspect appeared in the Nyoni Magistrate’s Court and was remanded in custody.