Five illegal firearms were seized by police during an operation last week in the Msinga area. Police spokesperson, Colonel Thembeka Mbhele, said the festive season is slowly picking up speed and many people are preparing for a joyful time with families and friends.
“The South African Police members in the province are making sure that this festive season is a peaceful one. Proactive intervention strategies have been employed in different parts of the province making sure that all the criminal endeavours are thwarted and removed from the community”.
Police from the Umzinyathi Cluster Crime Intelligence, together with Pietermaritzburg Public Order Policing, conducted an intelligence-driven operation in the Maqeleni Reserve, Msinga, in the early hours of last Thursday. Upon arrival at the targeted homestead, the members searched the home and found an unlicensed 9mm pistol with 15 live rounds as well as an R5 magazine.
A 60-year-old suspect was arrested and taken into custody for the recovered firearm and ammunition.

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The next stop was also in Maqeleni reserve where as soon as the members arrived one suspect fled into the dead of the night. The members continued and searched the homestead and found a 9mm pistol with 14 live rounds, a 308 rifle with six live rounds of ammunition, a 303 rifle with 11 rounds of ammunition, two R5 magazines with 19 live rounds and .22 rifle.

A 48-year-old suspect was arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms and they will appear in the Msinga Magistrate’s Court. The KwaZulu-Natal Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Bheki Langa, applauded the members for their successful operation that led to the arrest of the suspects and the recovery of the firearms. “We will continue with such operations to ensure that all unlicensed firearms that are in the hands of the criminals be removed,” he said.