Central police recover nearly 30 illegal firearms this year
Over 30 suspects have been arrested throughout 2024 in connection with these firearm recoveries.
The Pretoria Central police recovered an illegal firearm on December 4 to take the total recoveries this year to 27.
Police spokesperson Constable Thabang Nkhumise said the latest recovery was on the corner of Boom and First streets around 11:50.
A team consisting of five members, namely Captain Abel Tabane, Constable Themba Mathebula, Constable Kagiso Masalesa, Constable Ntlhare Ngobeni and Constable Desmond Modiba, stopped a man on the aforementioned street who was drinking alcohol in public and proceeded to search him.
While searching the 35-year-old man, police noticed an object wedged in his waistband. A Taurus revolver with six live rounds of ammunition and an additional hidden 12 rounds were recovered.
“After a lengthy interview, the suspect could not account for the firearm and had no valid documentation to possess it. He was immediately arrested and taken to the station for detention,” said police spokesperson, Constable Thabang Nkhumise.
The station commander of Pretoria Central SAPS Brigadier Gibin Hlengane Mashaba welcomed and applauded the crime prevention team for yet another successful discovery of an unlicensed firearm.
“The arrest now makes 27 firearms that were recovered this year alone with 38 suspects charged under the Firearms Control Act, pending conviction,” Mashaba said.
He added that this could not have been achieved were it not for more intensified visibility. Through strategic intervention with various law enforcement agencies, more foot patrols and increased manpower the station has performed exceptionally well in minimising crime in the inner city and the Central policing precinct.
Mashaba advised community members to note the competency requirement to possess a firearm as follows:
– Any private person in possession of a valid South African ID or a foreign national with a permanent residency and valid work permit must undergo formal training with certified training institutions.
– After completion, one can go to any police station and apply for a competency certificate with an authorised designated firearm officer (DFO), taking into account that it takes three to four for the competency to be approved by the National Central Firearm Registry Office.
– After completion and approval, they will apply for a valid firearm licence of their preferred calibre of a firearm and give motivation to possess one.
The community is urged to be more cautious of their surroundings and try to report any criminal activities anonymously. Call the Crime Stop hotline on 08600 10111, dial 112 on any network provider and follow the prompts or use the MySAPS app. Alternatively, contact the station directly on 079 880 0880.
The suspect will appear at the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court in due course.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
