Two senior managers from Public Safety and five bodyguards for councillors were arrested yesterday (March 7).
The men were arrested by the National & Provincial Police Task Team and Political Killing Task Team Unit.
Alfred Duma Local Municipality spokesperson Siyabonga Maphalala commented that the men were arrested after three firearms without serial numbers were found at Public Safety. The firearms were very old.
Two of the firearms came from Colenso Municipality when Ladysmith took over Colenso, and the other firearm was stolen from a Public Safety officer and recovered by police. The latter had its serial numbers filed off.
According to Maphalala, bodyguards were using the firearms.
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Maphalala added that the managers and bodyguards were released, as the municipality had evidence to confirm where the firearms came from and also paperwork showing that the firearms were de-registered. They also had the application forms for the new serial numbers to get them re-registered.
The National Firearms Registry and local police found that all the paperwork for the firearms was correct. Hence, there was no case to answer in court, and the case was completely dismissed and struck off the roll.
Both senior managers and the bodyguards were released today (Friday, March 8).
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